Fury 01 Schoene

TEAM NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

May 19, 2013 -- State Cup Game 3 -- "Hard Luck Fury Are Close, But No Cigar"

 

Soccer can be a cruel game.  The Fury can certainly attest to that after squandering a 2-0 lead, and eventually surrendering to the 01 TSC (Blackwell) by the score of 3-2 to close out their State Cup and the 2012-2013 season. 

 

It was an 8:00 a.m. kickoff, but the Fury were alert from the moment the whistle sounded.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden did not even let a minute pass on the game clock before firing a shot on goal that blazed just over the crossbar.  Then in the second minute of the game, the Fury won a throw-in deep in TSC territory.  Turner whistled in the throw and Katie Fowler picked out Keely Chapman with a sweet pass.  Keely took the assist and juked and jived her way into a tiny window of space and wrong-footed the keeper with a perfect shot that rolled into the back of the net.  Just like that, the Fury were in the lead.

 

Turner nearly doubled the lead in the 6th minute when she sent a rifle shot just wide of he mark.  It would not be long, though, before the Fury found paydirt again.

 

In the 10th minute, it was Jenna Miller's moment to shine.  It started with a splash.  As in Ally Mayberry drawing a foul when she was tripped and fell headfirst into a pool of standing water from the overnight rain showers.  Ally's hard work would pay off in the form of an assist, though, because Jenna was called upon by Coach Schoene to take the free kick.  Jenna walked off a huge distance to measure up the 30 yard free kick. Her aim was deadly, and her velociy ferocious, and she slammed the free kick on a line that left zero doubt on what would happen next.  The ball creased the back of the net, and the score was 2-0 good guys. 

 

Allison Austin preserved the lead in the 14th minute, making a diving save on a TSC free kick.  In the 16th minute, Bri Gray picked out Keely Chapman with a pinpoint pass and Keely's shot was bobbled by the TSC goalie, resulting in a Fury corner.  That was the last signficant action of the half, and the Fury huddled at halftime with a two goal lead, and a 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.

 

Unfortunately, the second half was filled with TSC goals, as they scrambled for their tournament lives, and piled up 10 shots to the Fury's 6 shots.  Things started brightly for the Fury.  In the 3rd minute Allison made a sparkling save at the near post, bending a shot around the bar with a perfectly placed paw. On the resulting corner kick, the Fury quickly reversed the field and Jenna set off on a run that eclipsed more than half of the field before her shot was forced wide by the advancing net-minder. 

 

TSC fired a warning shot in the 6th minute, striking the side netting on a free kick.  The promimse of that play was realized a minute later, when a TSC forward slipped past the back line and scored the first TSC goal. 

 

In the 11th minute, TSC again threatened, with speed merchant number 23 of TSC snaking her way towards goal, only to be forced to the boundary by clinical defense administered by Kelsi Fitzgerald. A minute later the Fury came whisper close to putting the game to bed.  Katie Fowler sent a great ball to Megan Jones who found herself one on one with the TSC keeper.  Megan was forced into a quick shot as her angle was closed by the keeper.  Megan managed to get her shot by the goalkeeper, but it missed the net by no more than the width of two soccer balls. 

 

Minutes later, TSC struck again.  It all started with a fairly routine shot that Allison Austin was perfectly positioned to gather at the near post.  Unfortunately, Allison was betrayed by the slippery pitch, as she unexpectedly dropped to her knees as she lost her footing.  Allison still managed to put her hands on the ball, but it squirted underneath her and into the net.  The score was now tied at two. 

 

The Fury continued to press to find the game winner.  In the 26th minute Bri Gray whipped a perfect cross that blazed in front of the TSC goal mouth and Katie Fowler was just a footstep away from tapping it in for a goal.  A minute later, Katie sent a free kick into the TSC box that rattled around, but never managed to find an open Fury player.

 

Disaster struck in the 28th minute.  A TSC player sent a lofting ball into the Fury box.  Defender Maddy Childers attempted to head the ball back to Allison Austin so that she could play the ball with her hands.  The ball glanced off her blonde noggin at a poor angle, though, and trickled by a wrong-footed Allison for an own goal.  A devastated Maddy was consoled by her teammates and fans alike who reminded her that it takes an entire team's worth of effort (and mistakes) to give up a lead.  This author can tell you, though, that it was a somber drive home after an otherwise strong game for Maddy and the Fury.

 

The game ended with TSC prevailing 3-2.  Despite the win, TSC (Blackwell) came up short, losing on a tie-braker for the final semi-final spot.  The Fury's other two opponents, the Cosmos and Blitz, advanced to the semi-finals, meaning that the Fury were vanquished by the teams that finished first, fourth and fifth in the preliminary rounds. 

 

Keely Chapman and Turner Mattingly-Harnden led all Fury players with 4 shots on goal, followed closely by Jenna with 3. Rylee Langerman was tops in connecting passes with a team-high twelve.  Rylee also led the team in clearnces with seven, and she was nearly matched by Maddy (6), Emma (6) and Elle (5).  Turner was a meance for TSC, posting a team high 8 tackles to complement her 9 on-target passes.

 

Bri Gray led all wingers in passing with 7 completed passes, and she drew a foul, had a tackle and a shot on goal.  Ally Mayberry was a stat-stuffer with an assist, 2 headers, 3 clearances, 2 tackles, 7 passes and a penalty drawn. 

 

Katie Fowler was an animal.  To go along with her assist on the first goal of the game, she had 2 shots on goal, a team high 2 pancakes, 5 tackles and 7 passes.  Megan Jones was deuces wild with 2 shots on goal, 2 clearnces and 2 tackles.  Cara Compton helped the Fury hold an advantage in possession all game long, with strong runs and 3 tackles.  Cassidy Potter likewise acquitted herself well in her first State Cup with a tackle and several connecting passes.

 

A win would have been nice.  Holding on to the draw would have been OK.  Losing the game was tough.  But, witnessing our young women refuse to give up, and battling to the end, in what was functionally a meaningless game, reminds all Fury fans that these girls are a special bunch no matter what the result.  Better days are ahead, of that I am certain.  And I, and I supect you the readers as well, wouldn't trade this band of soccer warriors for any other team out there.  

 

May 18, 2013 -- State Cup Game 2 -- "The Real Fury Show Up, but Still Fall Short"

 

The Fury did just about everything they could to change after the first game of the State Cup. They donned their black uniforms.  They played on a new field against a new opponent.  They painted eye black on their faces, and Bri Gray even applied lovely braids to roughly half of the team.  It all seemed to work, but although the Fury came out and played extremely well, they still fell to the 01 Blitz-Thunder United (Navy) by the count of 1-0, ending any hopes of advancing to the semi-finals next weekend.  

 

On the afternoon, the Blitz outshot the fury 21-3.  However, in the 5th minute it was the Fury who came close to a goal.  Ally Mayberry played a lovely through ball to Keely Chapman, who let fly with a fizzing shot that forced a diving save from the goliath Blitz keeper. 

 

The head referee was allowing an agressive style of play on the pitch, but when he did blow a whistle, it was never in the Fury's favor.  The Fury racked up 6 fouls, with 4 assesed to Katie Fowler.  The Bliz on the other hand, managed to play 60 minutes of ball without a single foul called against them.  This discrepancy was even harder to swallow when witnessing incidents like one in the 19th minute when Bri Gray won two different 50/50 balls and was racing down the sideline when she was crushed by a Blitz defender who sent Bri hurtling through the air, coming to a rest past the boundary.  Play was stopped to allow Bri to reconstruct her body from a pretzel to human form, but nary a foul was called.

 

Despite a lack of equity in the whistle, the Fury were holding strong until the 25th minute.  The play looked innocuous enough, a bouncing ball in the Fury box.  But, a moment of miscommunication between defender Emma Base and keeper led to a slip by Allison Austin on the muddy pitch, and in a flash, a Blitz player waltzed into the goal unabated. 

 

In the first half the Blitz outshot the Fury 7-2.  In the second half, they really turned up the pressure, owning a 14-1 advantage.  However, the Fury refused to give up any more goals.  In the 4th minute, Elle Abbey made a spectactular play, heading a shot off the line after a corner kick ledt to a point blank shot. 
 

It was not until the final minute of the game tha tthe Fury managed its first shot of the half.  Cara Compton got things started with a strong run and pass to Katie Fowler, who picked out Keely Chapman with a diagonal pass.  Keely galloped into scoring range and then laid off a nifty pass to a marauding Megan Jones.  Megan clipped the shot and sent it goalward, but the charging Blitz keeper made a tremendous save, using the bottom of her boot to redirect the shot just enough to deny Megan's bid for an equalizer.  It meant that the Fury were scant inches away from a draw that could have kept their tournament hopes alive.

 

The Blitz entered this tournament as the number two seed, and they lived up to their billing.  But, the Fury game no quarter, and pressed the Blitz to the limit.  A tip of the hat is in order for Allison Austin, who was one slip on the turf away from a clean sheet, piling up 16 saves on the afternoon.  Emma Base was a force on defense with a team-high 8 clearances and 4 tackles.  Kelsi Fitzgerald was just behind with 6 clearances and a tackle.  Rylee Langerman fed the offense with her missle-launcher throw-ins, and she tallied 3 tackles, 3 clearances and 2 pancakes.  Elle Abbey had similar numbers with 3 clearances, 2 tackles and 2 headers. 

 

Katie Fowler led all Fury players in connecting passes with nine.  Maddy Childers achieved the "flapjack," pancaking two Blitz players on one play and she doled out three tackles.  Ally Mayberry continued her strong aerial game with a teamhigh 4 headers.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden had one of he Fury's three shots and she added a clearnce, 2 tackles and 5 connecting passes.

 

Jenna Miller played the role of enforcer, makign the Blitz pay for their aggressive tactics with the pancake of the day, depositing a Blitz player on her duff, with a new appreciation for the dangers of standing in Jenna's desired path. Cara Compton and Cassidy Potter comtined for 3 tackles and a bucket-load of accurate passes. 

 

The loss was dificult to stomach.  But, the effort was strong and good to see for Fury fans.  Hopes of a semi-final berth were dashed, but hope for a strong finish to the tournament remained after witnessing the Fury's turn-around in effot and skill between games 1 and 2.

 

May 18, 2013 -- State Cup Game 1 -- "Bad Start to State Cup for the Fury"

 

When the 01 Fury (Schoene) squared off with the 01 South Lakes Cosmos (Blue) earlier this Spring in OPL play, the teams ended in a 0-0 deadlock.  So, it is understandable that the Fury were hopeful about the rematch in the opening preliminary game of the State Cup at Indian Springs Soccer Complex in Tulsa.  Those hopes were dashed, though, as the Cosmos dispatched the Fury in a shocking display, running away from the Fury by a score of 4-0.

 

What made the result feel even worse, is that the Fury opened the game with authority, dominating possession and peppering the Cosmos goal with shots, on a day when the Fury had 15 total shots to 12 for the Cosmos.  But, all that matters are the shots that end up in the net, and the Fury failed to tally any goals.

 

In the 6th minute, midfielder Keely Chapman took a shot that was wide of the mark.  Just a minute later, Turner Mattingly-Harnden's dangerous cross was speared by the Cosmos keeper. 

 

On the other half of the pitch, the Cosmos began to ratchet up the pressure, and it took a wonderful goal line clearance from left back Elle Abbey to fend off a goal after a corner kick.  About a minute later, though, a fluke play led to the first Cosmos goal.  A Cosmos pass was blocked and flew high into the air.  The trajectory of the ball was chaotic, and it fell right at the foot of a Cosmos forward who poked a perfect one-timer into the corner of the net.  It was the first shot of the game for the Cosmos, but they certainly made it count.

 

The Fury pressed the offensive.  In the 11th minute, forward Jenna Miller took one of her team high 6 shots, this one from distance, and it tracked wide.  In the 14th minute, Megan Jones took aim at a gorgeous opportunity, but she sent a missle about two feet over the crossbar. 

 

Unfortunately, the wheels came off in the 22nd minute.  A Cosmos attacker breached the back line and chipped a shot over an advancing Allison Austin, doubling the Cosmos lead.  The only other action of note in the first half took place when Keely Chapman's corner kick struck the side netting after a strong, but slightly off target effort. The whistle sounded with the Fury owning a 7-4 advantage in shots taken, but on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline.

 

In the second stanza, the Fury again were the first team to threaten.  Turner steered a cross into the box that met Keely's foot at precisely the same moment as the Cosmos net-minder.  The result was an agonizing near miss for the Fury.

 

At the fourteen minute mark, the game got away from the Fury.  Another chip shot over Allison, this time from the left wing, did the damage.  Things could have gotten even worse just two minutes later, but Allison made a strong save at the near post, turning away a stinging shot with her gloved hands.

 

The Cosmos rubbed salt in the wound in the 20th minute when a Cosmos forward dribbled through traffic and snuck a ball past a charging Allison Austin.  WIth that goal tucked away, the rout was complete at 4-0. 

 

The Fury tried to break the seal in the 27th minute with a towering moon ball shot from Jenna that was bobbled but eventually secured.  And, in the 28th minute Cara Compton muscled a strong cross into the Cosmos box that resulted in a shot from Jenna that was saved.  A minute later Jenna stung the keeper's hands with another firebolt. With only seconds left in the game, defender Kelsi Fitzgerald spared the team further blushes by sacrificing her body to make a stellar block that thwarted another Cosmos break-away. 

 

It was tough sledding for the Fury defense.  Allison Austin registered 6 saves, and the shots she did surrender took place when she essentially had no real chance to make a save.  Kelsi Fitzgerald led the team with 8 defensive clearaqnces, Rylee Langerman chalked up 4 clearances and 4 tackles.  Elle Abbey tied for the team lead (along with Megan Jones) with 3 headers, and she led all Fury players with 12 connecting passes.  Maddy Childers rotated between the right back position and holding midfielder, and she tied for the team lead for tackles with Turner at six, and the diminuitive force also led the team with 2 pancakes. Emma Base posted 3 clarances and a header.

 

Jenna Miller and Keely Chapman were the primary goal-scoriing threats, with a combined 11 of the Fury's 15 shots (6 for Jenna and 5 for Keely). Ally Mayberry led all midfielders with 8 connecting passes.  Bri Gray had a shot on goal to go with a clearance and a tackle  Katie Fowler led all wingers in passes with 6 and she chipped in with 3 tackles and a pancake. Cara Compton had 3 tackles of her own and connected on 4 passes.  Cassidy Potter had a crunching tackle and a handful of well placed passes.     

 

Obviously, this was not the start to the State Cup envisioned by the Fury.  This was the worst loss of the Spring for the team, and it could not have come at a more inopportune time.   

 

April 28, 2013 -- Spring OPL, Game 7 -- "Fury Close Out Spring OPL Season"

 

It was just fifteen days ago that the 01 Fury (Schoene) lost to the 01 TSC Hurricane (Howe) in the Lexus Cup by a score of 2-0.  Although the Fury lost by that same score today, the gap between the two teams has clearly narrowed.  The proof is in the stats, as the Fury turned a 20-1 shot disadvantage in the Lexus Cup affair, into a 13-7 tally today, including no less than five shots that came whisper close to finding the back of the net.  So, although the Hurricane prevailed, the Fury walked off the field like a new team with fresh hopes. 

 

Right from the start the Fury took the fight to the Hurricane.  In the 4th minute Turner Mattingly-Harnden played Keely Chapman into space, but the line judge raised his flag to signal offsides.  Just four minutes later, Katie Fowler charged into the box from the wing and fired a shot from a tight angle that wrapped itself in the side netting. 

 

Meanwhile, the Fury defense was stout.  In the 19th minute Elle Abbey made a fantastic block, extending her leg above her head to knock down a pass that appeared to free a Hurricane forward. Unfotunately, the first crack in the defense appeared in the 21st minute when a Hurricane player drug across the box and then squared and fired into the upper right hand corner to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Hurricane. 

 

The Hurricane nearly doubled their advantage in the 26th minute.  A Fury defender was whistled for hand-ball in the box and a penalty kick was awarded.  The Hurricane player tabbed to take the PK blasted over the goal and the score remained 1-0 at halftime.

 

It was the second half where the Fury really hit their stride.  Four minutes into the half Jenna Miller made a strong run down the boundary and unleashed a picture perfect cross that fell at the feet of Megan Jones.  Megan, who was bravely playing throuh pain after a nasty spill in the first half, fired a shot on frame but it was saved.

 

The only blemish on the Fury's second half came in the 5th minute.  Keeper Allison Austin knocked down a stinging shot from a Hurricane forward.  Allison twice gathered the bal as it rebounded in the box, but she was betrayed by a final bobble that was slotted home by a sliding Hurricane player. 

 

With the score 2-0, the Fury pressed the offensive. In the 9th minute Jenna Miller took a long free kick that spirlaed into the Hurricane box.  Elle Abbey vaulted into the air and attempted a stunning one-time volley.  Her shot blazed agonizingly close to goal, but flew like a missle wide of the mark.

 

The Fury continued the assault.  In the 11th minute Keely Chapman whizzed her way into shooting distance, and fired away.  Her shot wrong-footed the Hurricane keeper, but once again the shot was just a foot wide. 

 

The Fury's will to win was on full display.  In the 17th minute Elle was booked with a yellow card for aggressive play.  Elle would not let a Hurricane stand in her way, and her teammates felt the same way.

 

In the 21st minute Turner uncorked a wicked cross that picked out Katie.  Katie's shot seemed destined for goal, but you guessed it, the ball rolled barely wide. 

 

A minute later Keely laid off a perfect through ball that left Turner in a one one one with the Hurricane net-minder. Turner's dribbling was fantastic all game long, and she once again used her deft footwork to round the keeper.  The shot was triggered, and the result seemed preordained.  It went just wide. 

 

The Fury's final chance resulted in the final of the Fury's five near misses. Katie Fowler pitched a corner kick at the near post.  Midfielder Maddy Childers was perfectly placed and she struck the ball with her knee sending a shot that struck the keeper's hands and then ricocheted off the post and back to the waiting keeper.  That pretty much put a bow on an afternoon of "what if's" for the Fury.  The game ended minutes later.  Even with the loss, the Fury secured 4th place in the OPL standings as the TSC Hurricane (Parker) lost to the OFC on the same afternoon.

 

Allison Austin made several strong saves, and ran her total for the Fall and Spring campaigns to over 200 with 8 saves on the aftenoon. Rylee Langerman had her version of the "triple nickle" with 5 defensive clearances, 5 tackles and 5 connecting passes.  Elle Abbey was a dominant force.  She led the team with 8 clearances and she doled out a team high 2 pancakes as well.  Emma Base owned the air, registering a team-high 6 headers to complement her 6 clearances, 3 tackles and 8 connected passes. Kelsi Fitzgerald put a capper on the strong work by the defensive line with 5 clearances. 

 

On the offensive side of the ledger, there were several Fury standouts.  Katie Fowler led the team with 2 shots on goal, and she led the team in penalties drawn against the Hurricane.  Bri Gray was industrious on the wing, pushing the ball forward with strong runs and 4 connecting passes.  Keely Chapman matched Bri with 4 connecting passes and she chipped in with a tackle, a clearance and a shot on goal. 

 

Megan Jones shook off injury and contributed 7 connecting passes and a shot on goal.  Jenna Miller was a threat from the wing with her crosses and free kicks, and she was second on the team with 9 passes.  The only player with more completed passes was Turner with 10, and Turner also led the team with a staggering 9 tackles. Ally Mayberry patrolled the middle of the pitch with force, winning 3 tackles and posting a clearance and a pancake. Maddy Childers has become the Swiss Army knife of the team, with multiple uses ranging from the back line to midfielder to even the wing.  Today she was a midfielder, and racked up 5 tackles, 7 passes, 2 clearances and 3 headers. 

 

The Fury's focus now shifts to the State Tournament, which kicks off in Tulsa in just 20 days.  The Fury enter the tournament as the number 5 seed.  However, the Fury have looked like a different team since the Lexus Cup.  They will look to play above that seeding in Tulsa in their quest to take State.  Go Fury!  

 

April 27, 2013 -- Spring OPL, Game 6 -- "Chapman Fires Fury to Last Gasp Victory"

 

It was high drama on the showcase field of the Gillis-Rother Complex Saturday afternoon, as the 01 Fury (Schoene) tallied the winning goal with just 30 seconds remaining in their match with the 02 TSC Hurricane (Parker) to prevail by a count of 2-1.  Attacking midfielder Keely Chapman was the hero on this day, bagging both Fury goals, including a sublime chip in the waning seconds that sealed the Fury victory.  With the win, the Fury moved to 4th in the OPL table.

 

The match kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with the Fury resplendent in their home whites.  The Fury had a full roster at its disposal, including Ally Mayberry playing in a cast to protect a wrist that turned out to be broken after all.

 

The first half was a see-saw affair.  In the 3rd minute the Hurricane came close to finding the net off of a corner kick.  This was a sign of things to come, as the TSC squad's best efforts at goal usually came from set pieces. The Fury returned the pressure in the 7th minute when Keely Chapman fed Jenna Miller with a pass and Jenna launched a shot that was just wide.  Seconds later Katie Fowler's strong corner kick picked out Jenna who once again took aim at goal and was unlucky to scuff her shot resulting in a routine save for the Hurricane keeper.

 

In the 13th minute it was Turner Mattingly-Harnden who used her sharp passing skills to unlock the Hurricane defense.  Turner swept a beautiful through ball into the path of Keely.  Only a rapidly advancing movement by the Hurricane goalie separated Keely from a sure goal. 

 

In the final third of the first half the Hurricane amped up the pressure.  In the 20th minute a foul on a Fury defender just outside the box led to a Hurricane free kick that clipped the top of the crossbar.  Then, in the 27th minute, a dubious foul was called on the Fury defense on the outskirts of the box.  Allison Austin was well positioned to stop the kick, but the briefest of bobbles left the ball at the feet of a poaching Hurricane forwad, who deposited the ball into the net for a 1-0 Hurricane lead.

 

That remained the score when the Fury huddled with Coach Schoene for halftime instructions. Whatever Coach Katie had to say must have well received by the girls, because the Fury seized control of the contest in the second stanza.

 

In just the first minute of the second half, the Fury equalized the score.  Defender Elle Abbey fired one of her trademark bullet throw-ins, picking out Keely in a crowd.  From there, Keely was off to the races.  Weaving her way in and out of the Hurricane defensive back line, Keely galloped into the Hurricane box with a defender matching her stride for stride and the net-minder racing out to meet them.  Keely cooly switched to her left foot and let fly with a stunning effort that ripped the cords in the back of the net to make the score 1-1. 

 

The Fury smelled blood in the water and pushed the attack.   At the four minute mark, Jenna Miller sent a soaring cross into the box that Katie Fowler lashed over the goal. In the 9th minute, Katie again tested the Hurricane's resolve, punching a shot that dangerously rattled around the box after being blocked by a defender.

 

Time was beginning to be a factor.  In the 24th minute the Fury provided a preview of how things would end.  Defender Rylee Langerman stormed upfield from her position on the right flank and lofted a great ball to Keely who was only barely stone-walled by the advancing keeper. 

 

The game was becoming tense and testy.  A yellow card was issued to a TSC player for time wasting in the 27th minute after she petulantly kicked the ball far out of bounds after disagreeing with an offsides call.  The Fury's nerves were tested in the final minutes as Allison Austin produced a string of fine saves to preserve the tie.  Elle Abbey made a crunching tackle in the box with just a minute left that left the Hurricane player in a heap on the ground, and sent the ball away from danger.

 

Finally, with only 30 ticks left on the clock, Rylee and Keely revisited their earlier combo play, this time to spectacular result. Rylee blazed down the right sideline and uncorked a cross that was on a bee-line for Keely in acres of space.  Keely settled the pass and bore down on the Hurricane goal.  With only the goalkeeper to beat, Keely had to decide wisely.  With a deft side-step Keely made the perfect call, chipping the ball over the net-minder.  As the ball rolled into the back of the net, Fury fans erupted with cheers and Keely was mobbed by her teammates.  The comeback was complete.  Moments later the whistle sounded and the "W" was in the books.

 

Victory is sweet, and can only be tasted with a team effort. What better place to begin a review of that team effort than the Fury's tough-minded defenders.  Allison Austin recorded 8 saves and she turned back several strong shots by the Hurricane in the game's final minutes.  Central back Emma Base was an absolute beast.  Using her long legs to devour space, Emma constantly won possession and sheparded the ball out of danger and forward to the Fury offense.  Emma led the team with 10 defensive clearances and was second in tackles with 8.

 

"Big" Maddy Childers (per Tracy Miller) was a rock at right back.  Maddy was second amongst defenders with 5 clearances and she was second only to Turner in headers with 4, to accompany her 6 connecting passes and 2 tackles. Rylee Langerman's day was of course highlighted by her assist on the winning goal, but should also be lauded for her 4 tackles and and 9 completed passes.  Kelsi Fitzgerald put in her usual strong shift with 4 clearances and 3 tackles, including a vital robbery of a Hurricane forward late in the game.

 

Katie Fowler led all players in shots on goal with four.  This was part of an 18-11 advantage in shots on goal held by the Fury with Rylee (1), Elle (3), Turner (2), Keely (3), Megan (2) and Jenna (3) rounding out the on frame efforts. 

 

Bri Gray led all wingers in connected passes. Turner led the Fury in pancakes and headers. Elle Abbey led the team in connected passes (11). Ally Mayberry shook off the effects of lugging around a cast all game long, and registered 3 tackles and 2 clearances.  Cassidy Potter provided the Fury with much needed depth off the bench, and she connected on 5 passes and added 2 tackles and a clearance. 

 

The Hurricane (Parker) are the Fury's likely opening round opponents in the upcoming state tournament.  So, a return engagement appears to be in the cards, and the Fury have served notice of their intent.  Who knows if the next tilt will be a nail-biter like today, but the Fury are battle-tested and today showed they know how to close the deal.

 

April 14, 2013 -- Lexus Cup, Game 3 -- "Fury Throttle the Fusion, and Leave Tulsa on a High Note"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) put together a comprehensive team effort that resulted in a 2-0 victory over the 01 MUSC KC Fusion (Bulwich) in the final preliminary round game of the Lexus Cup.  The victory vaulted the Fury to second place in Bracket B of the U12 Gold Division with a victory, a draw and a loss in the round robin preliminary round play.  Although that was not enough to place the Fury in the championship game, it did leave the Fury in 4th overall place for the tournament out of 8 teams in the gold division.  More importantly, the victory left a sweet taste in the mouth of Fury players and fans as they savor the fruit of the team's labor.

 

It ws a two minute span of time in the first half in which the Fury unleashed on the Fusion. Megan Jones would play the role of playmaker and table-setter on the goals, and Keely Chapman featured heavily as well.  First, in the 9th minute, midfielder Keely Chapman picked out Katie Fowler with a beautiful through ball into space.  Katie settled the pass and arrowed a diagonal pass to a streaking Megan Jones.  Megan took the pass in stride and had to use her head to nod the ball into her path.  Once that was done Megan blazed past a defender and then from a difficult angle uncorked a tall, looping shot that found its way into the upper left corner of the goal, leaving a sprawling Fusion goalkeeper grasping at air as the ball punctured the back of the net.

 

Just two minutes later, the Fury doubled the advantage.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden won a tackle at midfield and then burst into enemy territory.  Turner fed Keely with a pass and then Keely picked out Megan with a lovely ball that reversed the field.  Megan once again beat her defender and dribbled to the edge of the end line.  Just before crossing that boundary, Metgan whipped a rolling cross through the box.  Bri Gray was perfectly positioned to receive Megan's assist, and she thumped a one-timer into the roof of the net to make the score 2-0.  Bri was mobbed by her teammates, eager to celebrate her perfect finish to Megan's touch of magic.

 

In the 14th minute, Jenna Miller broke free and had a violent collision with the Fusion keeper who only barely managed to hold on to Jenna's shot, one of her team high 5 on the day.  In the 19th minute the Fusion had a shout for a penalty kick after one of their players was pancaked in the box during a corner kick, but the referee ignored these pleas.  In the final minute of the first half Turner was the architect of a sweet through ball to Jenna, but her shot was gathered, and soon after the whistle blew to signal halftime.

 

The Fusion looked more determined to start the second half.  In just the first minute they forced Allison Austin to make a strong catch save, one of Allison's 9 saves on the day as she posted a clean sheet.  In the 10th minute the Fury applied some pressure back, when Keely Chapman's short corner to Jenna Miller led to Jenna firing a laser at goal that left a vapor trail as it went just wide of its mark.

 

A minute later, Keely and Jenna combined again to cause create havoc.  Keely pulled the strings with a precise through ball.  Jenna charged onto the pass and stung the Fusion keeper's hands with a thunderbolt that was on target.  In the 13th minute, Turner found Bri with a textbook reversing field pass and Bri was sprung free with only the keeper to beat.  Bri and the Fusion keeper smashed into one another and the loose ball was retrieved by the keeper just in the nick of time.

 

The Fusion came close to tightening the contest in the 15th minute, when a Fusion forward soared a shot over Allison's goal.  In the 18th minute, Katie Fowler struck a wonderful cross that found its way to the head of Turner.  Turner's header was agonizingly close to pay dirt, but it trickled over the top of the cross bar. 

 

The final bit of drama took place in the 24th minute during a stretch of prolonged pressure applied by the Fusion.  Allison produced a first class save, diving to her right to keep the ball from skidding into goal after a fine shot from a Fusion attacker.  After that, there was not much else of note, save for the Fury playing a game of muscial chairs, giving Emma Base and Kelsi Fitzgerald opportunities to play on the offensive side of the pitch, while Turner and Keely tried out the back line.

 

The game concluded with the Fury fans appladuing the strong effort and tireless work ethic on a weekend when the Fury never had more than one substitute available at any time.  It was a perfect finish to the weekend.

 

Speaking of the Fury's lack of depth, it is worth special mention to note that Ally Mayberry played through pain to support her teammates.  Less than 24 hours earlier, Ally was sporting an extremely swollen and sprained wrist that required post-game medical attention.  Yet Ally shook off that injury and put in a nearly full shift of work, frequently taking knocks on her splinted wrist, but always coming back for more. This warrior's spirt helped to inspire the Fury, and her 5 connected passes, 2 tackles, 2 clearances and one header were much needed. 

 

The defensive back line was a thing of beauty.  Kelsi Fitzgerald and Maddy Childers led the way, topping the charts with 6 defensive clearances a piece. It capped a fine weeked for Maddy, as she learned the ropes as a right back and combined with Kelsi, Emma, Elle and Allison to hold opponeents to only 4 goals for the weekend.  Before taking a spin on offense, Emma had 4 clearances, 2 tackles and 4 connecting passes.  Elle Abbey likewise was strong, with 3 clearances, 3 tackles, 5 passes and two vicious pancakes. 

 

Turner was an absolute dynamo all afternoon.  She led the team in four different cateogires - pancakes (3), headers (4), tackles (8) and passes (9).  She was the engine that made the Fury motor purr. Katie Fowler was likewise a factor all game long.  Katie had 5 tackles to her name to accompany her assist on the first goal. 

 

Bri's day was of course highlighted by the goal she fired into the Fusion net.  But, she also had 2 shots on goal (on a day when both teams registered 10 total shots) and contributed with a pancake, a tackle and several connecting passes. Jenna Miller's evolution into a goal-scoring threat continued, as she led the team in shots on goal, taking half of the Fury's shots on the day.  Speaking of evolution, Keely's transition to attacking midfielder is going swimmingly, as she is getting a chance to showcase her precise passing.  Keely trailed only Turner in connecting passes, and she was instrumental in the build-up to both Fury goals. 

 

What can you say about Megan Jones' day, other than she owned it?  Megan had a goal and an assist, putting an exclamation point on a fine weekend in which she scored half of the Fury's goals and assisted on another.  She also filled up the box score with tackles, clearances, headers and passes.  About the only thing to go wrong for Megan was in the final minutes of this match when her grandmother was the unfortunate recipient of a ball to the head as it flew out of bounds.  On behalf of the whole Fury family, here's hoping that Megan's grandma makes a speedy recovery!

 

After the game ended, the Fury huddled up in the shade to escape the heat of the day and listen to a few final words from Coach Schoene and Don Rother, who stopped by to watch the Fury's effort.  After that, the Fury players and fans bundled into their vehicles to begin the trek back to Norman.  The Lexus Cup was a mixed bag for the Fury with wins, losses and draws all in equal measure.  But, the promise shown by the Fury in this game will be the memory that will hopefully propel the Fury as the final month of the season unfolds. 

 

April 13, 2013 -- Lexus Cup, Game 2 -- "The Math Does Not Add Up for the Fury"

 

Soccer is a complex game.  But, there is one simple rule that almost always holds true.  You have to take shots to score goals.  Saturday evening, the Fury were on the wrong end of that equation, being outshot by the 01 TSC Hurricane (Howe) 20-1, resulting in a 2-0 loss in the second preliminary round game of the Lexus Cup.

 

The first half was a physical affair, with both teams doing their best to establish dominance.  Katie Fowler doled out punishment left and right, posting a team-high 4 pancakes in just the first half.  Unfortunately, in the 8th minute Katie was whistled for a foul after getting tangled iup with a Hurricane player.  The free kick was booted by a Hurricane player wearing the number 19 jersey who has a cannon for a leg. From a distance that most don't aim for goal, her free kick bounded into the Fury box and caught keeper Allison Austin in an awkward position.  Allison grabbed the bouncer but was unable to secure it, and a Hurricane forward was on hand to slot home the bobble. 

 

Despite a barrage of shots, that was the only damage inflicted by the Hurricane in the first stanza.  That fact is primarily attibutable to a stout defensive effort, headlined by Emma Base who led all defenders with 4 defensive clearances in the first half.

 

In the second half the Hurricane really turned up the heat.  In just the first minute it took a terrific goal line clearnce from defender Maddy Childers to keep the Tulsans from doubling their lead.  In the 6th minute, Allison Austin kept up her busy day in which she tallied a seson high 15 saves, by making a sliding point blank save in a one on one situation.

 

A minute later the Hurricane made their breakthrough.  Maddy Childers bravely stepped in front of a goal-bound effort and blocked a shot that rolled over the end line for a corner kick.  The Hurricane lined up the corner kick and it was a beauty.  The kick took a direct line and passed just over left back Elle Abbey's head and landed directly at the feet of a Hurricane attacker who was left with a simple finish to make the score 2-0.

 

It was not until the 20th minute that the Fury got their first shot on goal.  It was Keely Chapman who weaved her way through traffic and put a shot on frame from outside the 18 yard box.  In the 25th minute winger Bri Gray made a nifty run on the left boundary, juking her way past a Hurricane defender and motoring her way towards a landing zone for a cross into the Hurricane box.  A helping defender foiled that plan, though, and that was the last time the Fury threatened the Hurricane goal.

 

Kelsi Fitzgerald led the Fury with 7 defensive clearances, many times as the last defender between the Hurricane and goal.  Emma Base was right behind her with 6 clearances and and 4 tackles.  Elle Abbey was a force, with a team-high 5 tackles (tied for team lead with Ally Mayberry) and 4 defensive clearances.  Maddy Childers was a stat-stuffer with her personal box score registering five clearances, 3 tackles and a team-high 4 headers. 

 

Ally Mayberry was an engine in the middle of the field and was fearless in her play.  In fact, Ally left the field cradling a swollen wrist that was only confirmed as a sprain in a post-game medical visit.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden doled out a pancake, had 2 headers, a clearance and 3 tackles.  Megan Jones was similarly productive with 2 clearances and 3 tackles. 

 

Keely Chapman posted the Fury's only shot on goal and tied with Jenna Miller for the most connected passes by a Fury player.  Katie Fowler led the team in pancakes and penalties drawn against the Hurricane, to go with 2 clearances and 3 tackles. Bri Gray had a tackle and was second among the wingers in connected passes. 

 

The loss ended the Fury's chances of advancing to the championship game, and there is no denying that this game represents a step back for the squad.  However, the Fury have a chance to end their trip to Tulsa on a high note, with a final game on Sunday against a team from Kansas.

 

April 13, 2013 -- Lexus Cup, Game 1 -- "Water-Logged Fury Battle to a Draw in Lexus Cup Opener"

 

An 8:00 a.m. start to a tournament on a Saturday morning is rough.  The same start time in a steady cold rain is downright brutal.  The 01 Fury (Schoene) were up to the challenge, though, sloshing their way to a hard fought 2-2 draw with the 01 Austin Texans in the opening game of the 2013 Lexus Cup at the Indian Springs Soccer Complex.

 

With defender Rylee Langerman unavailable for the tournament, Coach Schoene tinkered with the starting lineup, sliding Maddy Childers into the role of right back.  The revamped lineup was strong, and it gave Coach Schoene the ability to keep Katie Fowler on the attacking end of the field, which on this day was crucial. 

 

The first 20 minutes of the first half featured even play between the two sides, with the Fury getting the nod for a slight advantage in shots taken and overall possession.  In the 23rd minute the Fury had their first real chance.  Maddy Childers was pushed up far on the right flank, and she used her noggin to send a nifty pass to Turner Mattingly-Harnden.  Turner took the pass and side-stepped one defender before delivering a thunderous shot that was blocked by a brave Texan defender.

 

Two minutes later the Texans struck for the first goal of the match.  It was not without a fair amount of controversy.  A Texan striker marauded her way to the edge of the Fury box where she was met by Elle Abbey.  Elle and the Texan fought for control, shoulder to shoulder.  The Texan player broke free by extending her arm and committing what appeared to be a clear foul.  A resolute Elle didn't give up and delivered the same blow to the Texan.  Inexpliably, the referee determined that Elle's action was worthy of penalty, even though the Texan's act was precisely the same. 

 

The  ensuing free kick from the edge of the box skied over the Fury wall and nestled in the back of the net after clearing Allison Austin's gloved hands. The Fury faithful were vocal in their disaproval of the entire chain of events, resulting in a sideline warning issued by the mentally fragie whistile-holder. 

 

The Fury kept up their collective heads. In the closing minuetes of the first half Bri Gray twice made dazzling runs on the far sideline and sent beautiful crosses into the six yard box of the Texans.  Both precise deliveries were nearly deposited in the net by Fury players.  However, the Fury entered the half down 1-0.

 

It was in the second half that the Fury made their stand.  In the 3rd mintue Katie Fowler whipped a cross that blazed across the goal's mouth inviting a Fury player to give it a poke towards goal.  Although no one was available for that chance, Katie took charge minutes later.

 

In the 5th minute, Katie intercepted a pass from a Texan defender just outside the 18 yard box.  Katie settled the ball in a quick movement and then unleashed a firecracker of a shot with her left foot, whistling the ball past the stunned goalkeeper and into the back of the net.  This one-timer was a thing of sheer beauty, and it evened up the score at 1.

 

The Fury were not done yet.  Just two minutes later the Fury won a free kick approximately 30 yards from goal.  Coach Schoene called upon strong legged Jenna Miller to take the free kick.  Jenna launched a brilliant kick that arced its way over the defense and caught the Texan net-minder off her line.  The attempt at a catch save was bobbled, and the ball fell at the keeper's feet where a flurry of Fury players were ready to pounce.  Megan Jones was the fastest to react, and she tucked the ball in goal with a quick toe poke, setting off jubiliation for her teammates and Fury fans as the Fury seized a 2-1 lead. 

 

For a long stretch it appeared the Fury might add another goal to their tally.  In the 13th minute, Jenna came close once again with another strong free kick.  In the 16th minute Katie Fowler won a corner kick and then took the corner, dialing up a textbook perfect cross that was fumbled by the keeper, nearly leading to another goal. 

 

Unfortunately, with just 9 minutes left in the contest, the Texans clawed back.  A muffed defensive clearance led to a fortuitous bounce for the Texans.  The clearance corkscrewed straight to a Texan forward, who fired in past Allison to draw the game level at 2.

 

The Fury kept up the attack, looking to capitalize on their 15-7 advantage in shots on goal.  However, the game came to an end without any more goals, meaning the Fury and Texans share a point in Bracket B of the top flight of the U12 Division. 

 

The Fury had a wonderful all around team performance.  On defense, Allison Austin collected 4 saves and had a wonderful kicking game on a day when field conditions were poor.  Maddy Childers aquitted herself fabulously in an unfamiliar spot, leading the team in tackles with 7, tying Elle Abbey for the team lead in connected passes (7) and posting 6 clearances.  Kelsi Fitzgerald racked up a team high 9 defensive clearances.  Elle was all over the field, with 5 clearances and 4 tackles.  Emma Base was rock solid in the center of the back line, four times clearing the ball from danger.

 

The offensive player of the game had to be Katie Fowler.  In addition to her wonder goal, Katie led the team with 4 shots on goal and she was second, along with Turner, in tackles with 6.  Speaking of Turner, when she wasn't busy dispossessing Texans of the ball and making long dribbling runs, she was leading all offensive players in connected passes.

 

Bri Gray had a very strong outing.  Her crosses were precise and clinical, and she shared top honors for connected passes for offensive players with Turner and Ally Mayberry.  Ally was also a menace to the Texans, contributing an incredible 7 clearances from her midfielder spot.  Megan Jones was a hero this day not only for her goal, but also for her tirless eforrts in the middle of the pitch, resulting in 4 defensive tackles.  Keely Chapman was second on the team in shots on goal (tied with Jenna with 3 shots a piece), and she had a free kick in the final minutes that was well struck and only a few feet wide from making the Fury the winners on the day.

 

Next up for the Fury is a familiar opponent, the 01 TSC Hurricane (Howe), the current leaders of the Oklahoma Premier League where the Fury play their regular season games.  The game kicks at 6:45 p.m.  The Fury will look to build on their strong outing this morning.

 

April 6, 2013 -- Spring OPL Game 5 -- "OFC Outshine the Fury"

 

There is no gloss to apply to this game, no spin to give to the story.  The 01 Fury (Schoene) were outplayed in every aspect of the game, and were downed by the 01 OFC by a score of 2-0 at the North Oklahoma City soccer fields.

 

That is not to say that the Fury did not put in a strong shift of hustle and effort.  They did.  Only that the OFC squad are currently leagues ahead of the Fury when it comes to stringing together passes, holding possession and attacking the goal. 

 

OFC owned a 16-4 advantage in shots on goal in the match.  The pressure started early with OFC pushing a free kick wide of goal in the second minute, and Allison Austin making a finger-tip save on another free kick just a minute later. 

 

As slick of a display as was being put on by OFC, it was an ugly, and somewhat lucky, shot that led to the first goal  An OFC attacker lofted a shot high into the air that seemed destined to soar over Allison's goal.  However, the stiff Oklahoma Spring wind knocked it down and the ball fell like a rocket, perfectly positoned between Allison's hands and the crossbar.  Ugly goals count too, though, and the score was 1-0, which remained the case through halftime.

 

In the third minute of the secnd half the Fury had their best chance at a goal.  Keely Chapman made a mazy run through traffic on the left side of the OFC 18 yard box.  Keely stopped on a dime and delivered a pitch perfect pass to a waiting Jenna Miller who had found space at the top of the key in the 6 yard box. Jenna wound up to take her shot, but a defender's well-timed kick took steam off the effort, and Jenna's shot was gathered by the OFC keeper. 

 

It was just 3 minutes later that OFC doubled their advantage.  An OFC forward broke into the free and drew Allison out of goal.  With a nifty dribble the OFC attacker made it around Allison, and then rounded to take a shot. Defender Rylee Langerman charged back and nearly pulled off an astounding goal-line clearance, but her hustle was not quite enough, and the ball creased the goal-line.

 

The scoreline almost got messier in the 13th minute. OFC scorched a shot off the cross-bar that ricocheted straight down and landed directly on the goal line.  The ball took a couple more crazy bounces before Elle Abby took charge and cleared the ball from danger.

 

The remainder of the half played out without much fanfare, and the score remained 2-0 in favor of OFC at the final whistle. 

 

The defense was the best part of the Fury's performance on this Saturday. Kelsi Fitzgerald was extremely effecitve, warding off OFC attacks with a team-high 10 defensive clearances.  Emma Base contributed 6 clearances and a crunching tackle in front of the Fury fans that drew cheers.  Elle Abby was a dynamo, leading the team with 3 pancakes to accompany her 4 clerances and 3 tackles.  Rylee Langerman chipped in with 3 clearances and 2 tackles, and she also led all defenders in passing.  Allison Austin was under pressure all day, and her 7 saves were all crucial. 

 

On the offensive side of the ledger, Katie Fowler led the team with 2 shots on goal, with Turner Mattingly-Harnden and Jenna Miller sharing the Fury's other two shots.  Turner led all players in tackles (7) and conected passes (7).  Megan Jones led the team in penalties drawn, and made three strong tackles.  Maddy Childers added three tackles of her own.  Ally Mayberry was active with a pancake, a defensive clearance and 2 tackles.  Katie Fowler demonstrated the most heart on the day, leading the team in shots on goal and filling up her box score with a clearance, 4 tackles, 3 connecting passes and a penalty drawn.

 

Keely Chapman held possession well from her attacking midfielder position, and suppllied the pass that led to the Fury's best chance on goal.  Jenna Miller led all wingers with 5 completed passes.  Bri Gray and Cassidy Potter threaded passes to open teammates and helped hold off the OFC attackers.

 

The Fury now take a break from OPL play, stepping out to participate in the Lexus Cup next weekend in Tulsa.

 

March 30, 2013 -- Spring OPL Game 4 -- "The Fury Take the Monkey Off Their Back and Kick it in the Butt"

 

It has been 137 days on the calendar.  It took seven hours and and 29 minutes of game time over the course of 8 games.  But, it finally happened.  The 01 Fury (Schoene) scored its first goal in 2013, and its first goal of any kind since the final game of the Fall season on November 11, 2012.  Even better, it was the only goal they needed in a 1-0 victory over the TSC Blitz--Thunder United (Black) at the Gillis-Rother Complex, catapulting the Fury up to 4th place in OPL play. 

 

Coach Schoene was running late due to another game she had to coach at South Lakes.  So, her new hubby, Graeme Abel took the coaching reins for warm-ups and the first 10 minutes of game time until Coach Schoene arrived on the scene, showcasing some of her old soccer quickness as she sprinted to the sideline.

 

Right from the start the Fury took the fight to the Blitz.  In the 8th minute Katie Fowler took the first of the Fury's 15 shots on the day. Katie's shot was a long distance stab at the goal, and although it was scooped up by the Blitz keeper, it gave the Fury fans a glimpse of the onslaught to come.

 

That's not to say that the Blitz lacked punch.  Just a minute after Katie's shot,, the Blitz scorched a shot over Allison Austin and the Fury goal.  And, in the 12th minute a Blitz free kick pushed just wide of its mark.

 

In the 23rd minute, the Fury had another late arrival.  Keely Chapman, fresh off another sporting event in her hectic schedule, joined her Fury teammates and began to wreak havoc on the Blitz.  Just three minutes after Keely took the field, Rylee Langerman lined up to take a free kick.  Rylee laid into the kick and sent a perfectly weighted ball into the Blitz box where Keely turned on a dime and nearly hooked the shot into the the net. 

 

The real fireworks were reserved for the final 2 minutes of the half.  First, in the 28th minute, the Blitz were on the attqack.  A streaking Blitz forward burst into the Fury box and buzzed a shot directed at the far post.  Allison Austin made a sprawling dive and with just her fingertips, she pushed the shot out and to her right.  The save rolled into the path of a Blitz player who drilled the rebound into the back of the net.  There was just one little problem for the Blitz.  The linesman had his flag raised to singal offsides, and the Fury fans let out a huge sigh of relief.

 

Only one minute later, the Fury turned that bit of good fortune into a moment of pure bliss.  The Fury advanced down the field with a series of slick passes.  The momentum stalled at the edge of the Blitz box when a Blitz defender stepped in and tipped away a pass.  Katie Fowler was on the spot, though, and she wheeled away with her dribble and found Keely Chapman with a seeing-eye through ball.  Keely sprinted past the final defender and found herself with only the keeper in her path.  Keely's attacking angle was acute and she really had only one option.  And that was the option she picked.

 

Keely launched the sphere up and over the Blitz net minder.  As net billowed with the impact of Keely's strike, the Fury fans erupted in cheers.  The monkey was off the Fury's back.  Katie's assist and Keely's goal had made sure of that.

 

In the second half, the Fury did not let off the gas.  That is not to say that the job was easy.  Allison Austin made a brilliant save in the very first minute of the second half, fearlessly sliding to rob the ball from a Blitz attacker.  In the third minute, Bri Gray made a blistering run down the left sideline, jukking and jiving her way past her defender and uncorking a beautfiul cross into the Blitz box.  Ally Mayberry was in the right spot to receive the cross and although she was tangled up with a defender, she still managed a back heel shot that forced the goalkeeper into a save. 

 

In the 19th minute, the Fury defense again showed its strength.  A Blitz winger galloped into the danger zone.  But, defender Kelsi Fitzgerald executed the perfect response.  Kelsi stuck to the winger like glue and forced her so far wide that the resulting shot was easily saved by Allison. 

 

During the 22nd minute, the tandem of Katie and Keely struck again, this time nearly doubling the Fury's advantage.  The pair pulled off a nifty give and go.  Katie received the last pass and darted to about 8 yards from the goal and clanged a shot off the side of the crossbar. 

 

Just three minutes later Keely won a corner kick for the Fury.  Keely forced a tip save from the Blitz goalie after her missle launch of a shot surprised the Blitz defense. 

 

The final bit of danger for the Fury was in the 27th minute.  The Blitz got a free kick about halfway past midfield.  Desperate for an equalizer, the Blitz keeper came out of goal to take the kick.  It was easy to see why she was given responsibility for the kick as her strong leg propelled a cannon shot at Allison's goal.  Fury fans held their breath as the shot pushed just wide.  After that, nothing was left but the unadulterated joy from the Fury players and fans as the final whistle called a halt to the Fury's first win on the OPL season.

 

The Fury owned the advantage in almost every statistical category.  They had 15 shots to the Blitz's 7 shots. Keely led the way with 6 shots, followed by Ally and Katie with 3 per player.  Elle Abby, Turner Mattingly-Harnden and Bri Gray rounded things out with one shot per green-clad warrior.

 

Allison Austin spearheaded the defensive effort with 7 saves and her third clean sheet in the first four games of the Spring OPL season.  Emma Base was a beast, leading the team with 8 defensive clearances and 4 pancakes.  Elle Abby had 6 clearances and tied with Maddy Childers for the team lead with 5 tackles. Elle also led all defenders with 11 connected passes, part of a wonderful effort by the back line to build up play with passes from the back. Rylee Langerman had 4 clearances, 3 tackles and 9 connecting passes. Kelsi Fitzgerald did her part with 6 clearances, a tackle and 3 passes.

 

The Fury midfielders were on fire all game long.  Ally was a force of nature.  In addition to her 3 shots on goal, Ally took her customary spot at the top of the charts with 3 headers, and she had 7 passes to go with her 4 tackles and a clearance.  Turner continued her passing mastery, adding to her lead on the season for accurate passing with 11 more connected passes.  Maddy registered the team lead in the game for passing, posting one more completed pass than Turner to lead the squad with 12. Megan Jones led the team in penalties drawn against the Blitz, sacrficing her body for the sake of the team as this little mighty-might always does.

 

Jenna Miller continued her strong play this week, administering a pancake, collecting a header and racking up a bucket full of connecting passes.  Katie Fowler had the fullest box score, with an assist, 3 shots on goal, 2 headers, 2 clearances, 5 tackles, a corner kick, 8 connected passes and one penalty drawn.  In other words, just another day at the office for Katie.

 

Victory is sweet, and it is exactly what the Fury deserve for not giving up during this extended period of games without goals.  With the win, the Fury are 1-2-1 in OPL game and find themselves in the middle of the table with roughly half of the regular season and 2 tourneys to go.  What a difference a goal can make!  Well done Fury, there are many more goals to come. 

 

March 28, 2013 -- Spring OPL Game 3 -- "Fury and Cosmos Split the Spoils"

 

Although the Fury did not break the voo-doo hex that has tkept them goalless in 2013, they still managed to put together a stout defensive effort tha resulted in a 0-0 draw with the 01 Cosmos (Blue) at the South Lakes Soccer Complex. Coach Schoene mixed things up, installing a new formation that placed a renewed emphasis on offense. The new look seemed to yield results, as the Fury had 7 shots on goal to only 5 for the Cosmos.  But, it was the Fury defense which ruled the day, even in the absence of right back Rylee Langerman, who had to miss the match.

 

In the 8th minute, winger Jenna Miller signalled the Fury's attacking intent.  Jenna bulldozed her way down the right channel, and just before running out of real estate, she ripped a shot at goal from a tough angle.  The ball struck the side of the crossbar and rattled the goal and Cosmos defenders.

 

Jenna continued to lead the attack two minutes later  Jenna was fed an appetizing pass by Turner Mattingly-Harnden and she squared to shoot.  Jenna was forced to her left foot, though, and the shot rolled wide.

 

The Cosmos seized momentum in the 20th minute, narrowly missing on a shot that fizzed over goalkeeper Allison Austin's crossbar.  Then in the 26th minute a Fury defender was whistled for hand ball near the edge of the box.  The ensuing Cosmos free kick smacked the crossbar and rebounded off the goal line, but Allison alertly gathered the rebound before any damage could be done.

 

Just two minutes later, the Fury came agonizingly close to finding the goal it craved.  Megan Jones burst into the Cosmos box to receive a deft pass from Keely Chapman.  Megan made a sliding attempt to hook the ball into the net, but the advancing Cosmos keeper arrived at precisely the same time, and the shot was pushed wide.

 

In the second half, Katie Fowler moved to the offensive side of the pitch, and Maddy Childers rotated to the back line, playing her first game time minutes at that position.  Maddy and the other members of the back line - Kelsi Fitzgerald, Emma Base and Elle Abby proved to be immovable forces of nature, refusing to give up any goals to the pressing Cosmos squad. 

 

In the 14th minute, Jenna Miller continued her assault, pile-driving her 3rd shot (team high) on goal.  The shot was a bullet, but was about one foot too high, and it left Fury fans gasping as the ball blazed over. 

 

The balance of the second half passed without much fanfare.  In the 27th minute the Cosmos threatened with a smart cross into the box, that Maddy and Emma combined to clear from danger.  Finally, in the 29th minute the Cosmos poked a shot into the back of the net, but only after the Fury defense came to a halt, recognizing that before the shot was even taken, the ball had passed over the end line, leading to a goal kick.

 

A minute later and the game was in the books, with each team sharing a point from the draw. 

 

The statistical count underscores the total team effort by the Fury.  In addition to Jenna's 3 shots on goal, Elle Abby, Ally Mayberry, Turner Mattingly-Harnden and Megan Jones each chipped in with a shot per player to cement the Fury's advantage in a category it has trailed in for every other game in 2013. 

 

Allison Austin put two more saves in her bag, but more importantly, she put up yet another clean sheet.  That clean sheet was not possible without the Fury's back line of stalwart defenders. Elle, Emma and Kelsi shared top honors with 5 defensive clearances per player.  Maddy and Elle topped the charts with 4 tackles a piece, just ahead of Bri Gray who notched 3 tackles of her own. 

 

Katie Fowler led the charge on a nice night of passing for the Fury, connecting on 10 passes.  Ally Mayberry played the role of Fury enforcer, doling out a team high 3 pancakes, including one crunching blow that left a Cosmos player in a sobbing heap on the South Lakes turf. Cassidy Potter played valuable minutes for the undermanned Fury, and contributed with defensive tackles and connectign passes. 

 

The Fury have just 2 days to go before they get to try out their new formation on another OPL foe, the TSC Blitz-Thunder United (Black).   

 

March 24, 2013 -- Spring 2013 OPL Game 2 -- "A Cold Finish to Spring Break for the Fury"

 

The calendar said it was the last day of Spring Break.  But, the 34 degree temperature and icy winds told another tale all together, as Fury fans huddled under blankets to ward off the cold while watching the 01 Fury (Schoene) square off with the TSC Blitz-Thunder United (Navy). 

 

Unfotunately, it wasn't just the weather that was cold.  The Fury's goalless deep freeze in 2013 continues, as the Fury once again failed to find the back of the net, falling by a score of 2-0.  That makes 6 games that the Fury have played in 2013 without scoring even a single goal.  So far at least, the Fury are putting the "0" in 2013. 

 

Making the lack of a goal even more frustrating, the Fury played a very strong game.  The game was tied at zero at halftime, and the Fury was strong in most every facet of the match with the exception of its attack.

 

The Fury did manage two shots on goal.  In the 17th minute, midfielder Turner Mattingly-Hazrnden launched a long distance effort that was latched onto by the Blitz keeper.   In the 24th minute, winger Jenna Miller cranked up her strong leg and rifled another long distance effort that knifed through the wind and tested the keeper. However, it lacked just enough air to get over the net-minder, and instead was gathered before the scoreless streak could come to an end. 

 

The Fury defensive effort in th efirst half was strong.  Defender Rylee Langerman, shrugging off the effects of a recent sprained ankle, made a crucial goal line clearance in the 29th minute to preserve the deadlock heading into halftime.

 

The Blitz struck in the 8th minute of the second half.  Goalkeeper Allison Austin, who made 9 saves on this frigid afternoon, was drawn off her line scrambling out to gather a ball in the upper left of the box.  Before Allison could get to the ball a Blitz attacker took one dribble and made a square pass for a waiting forward tho deposited the ball in the net. 

 

The Fury's best chances at an equalizer came courtesty of Jenna Miller and Keely Chapman. On two different occassions, Jenna sent long balls from the mid-line into Keely's path.  Both times Keely came whisper close to taking the passes and outpacing the Blitz defense for breakaway attempts. However, it was not to be, as Keely was caught on the first breakaway, and on her second the goalkeeper came out to smother the ball before a shot could be taken.

 

The Blitz drove a nail in the coffin in the 23rd minute.  A bit of luck was invlved on this goal, as an unkikely and unfotunate bounce put the ball over Allison's head and the ball was scrambled over the line in an ensuing scrum as attackers, defenders and Allison  converged on the bouncing ball.

 

Statistically speaking, the Fury were an active bunch.  Ally Mayberry and Jenna Miller shared top honors for pancakes with 2 a piece. Ally also had the most headers (2).  Elle Abby led the team with 8 defensive clearances, followed closely by recent birthday girl Kelsi Fitzgerald  with 7, Katie Fowler with  6 and Emma Base with 5.

 

Elle also led the way with 7 tackles, with Maddy Childers nipping at her heels with 6 tackles and a team-leading 2 fouls drawn against the Blitz.  Turner topped the charts with 10 completed passes. 

 

Other notable stats in the game included Bri Gray contributing 2 tackles, a defensive clearance and completing 3 passes, and Cassidy Potter chipping in with a tackle and a completed pass. 

 

As you loyal readers know, the only stat that really matters is goals scored, and on that count the Fury remain 0-fer 2013.  It is a busy week ahead, though, with games for the Fury on Thursday and Saturday.  Fingers are crossed that the goal jinx ends, and soon.

 

March 2, 2013 -- Spring 2013 OPL Game 1 -- "Fury Settle for Draw in Spring Opener"

 

In their last game before Coach Schoene ties the knot in Seattle, the 01 Fury (Schoene) did some tying of their own, splitting the spoils with the 01 TSC Hurricane (Blackwell) in an entertaining, but scoreless 0-0 draw in the opening game of the Spring 2013 OPL season. 

 

The match kicked off at 6:00 p.m. at TSC's home field.  As the sun dipped below the horizon the temperature began to sink, but the Fury's play was hot right from the start.

 

In the second minute of the contest, forward Keely Champman broke into the open after a fine through ball from winger Katie Fowler.  Keely collided with the Hurricane keeper as the two converged on the ball just six yards from the goal.  The keeper managed to hold onto the ball, but the Fury's attacking intent was already on full display. 

 

In the 15th minute, it was Katie's turn to take a shot on goal.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden lofted a corner kick into the box that richocheted around until it found its way to Katie's feet.  Katie sighted goal and unleashed a shot that was gathered by the Hurricane net-minder. 

 

Meanwhile, the Fury defense was stout.  Elle Abby was particularly active in the first half.  Elle and Emma Base led the team with 7 defensive clearances and Elle led all defenders with 10 connecting passes, using her speed and aggression several times to help feed the attack from the back line.

 

The Fury owned the advantage in terms of time of possession and shots on goal.  However, the first hald ended with neither team finding the back of the net.

 

In the second half, the Fury stepped up the pressure.  Playing offense on the side of the pitch in front of their fans, the Fury's onslaught on the Hurricane goal mounted. 

 

In the 7th minute winger Bri Gray made a strong run down the left channel and then uncorked a picture perfect cross (one of her 5 connecting passes, which led the Fury wingers) that found its way to Keely who took aim at goal.  Unfotunately, Keely's strike lofted just over the crossbar.

 

A minute later the Fury came ever closer to paydirt.  Keely intercepted a goal kick and drove to the edge of the Hurricane box before pushing off a pass to Turner (Keely led all forwards with 12 completed passes).  Turner wound up and smoked a shot at goal that seemed destined to find the far corner.   However, a sprawling finger-tip save by the Hurricane keeper preserved the tie. 

 

Turner returned the favor a minute later, using deft touch on a through ball to spring Keely into action.  It was one of Turner's team-high 18 connecting passes, and it would have been an assist had the Hurricane keeper not alertly pounced on the ball in the box just scant moments before Keely could poke it into goal.

 

The balance of the second half brought even more chances at goal.  Midfielder Ally Mayberry, who led the team with 3 shots on goal, blazed a shot that was spilled by the keeper and nearly led to a rebound goal by Keely.  Katie Fowler collected a rebound from her own corner kick and spanked a ball towards the near post that came agonizingly close to nut-megging the Hurricane goalie. 

 

Maddy Childers charged into Hurricane territory and snaked a pass through traffic and into the path of Keely at the edge of the box.  Keely was unlucky to overrun the ball just as Hurricane defenders converged to clear from danger.  Jenna Miller galloped down the left channel and whipped a beautiful cross into the box that created havoc for the Hurricane defenders, and was whispter close to being deposited into goal by Turner and Katie. 

 

In the final minute of the game winger Cara Compton sped down the right channel and fired a shot on goal from a tight angle that tested the keeper but was gathered.  That the was the final shot of the game for the Fury, and it cemented the Fury's lead in that category with the Fury putting 10 shots on frame, and the Hurricane only managing 7 shots.  Importantly, the shots were more evently distributed than usual, with Ally (3), Keely (2), Katie (2), Turner (1), Megan (1) and Cara (1) all firing shots at goal.

 

Another statistic of note was a bit more aggravating.  The Fury were whistled for 12 fouls in the game with Elle, Ally and Keely each collecting 3 per player.  The Hurricane, on the other hand, did not pick up a single foul.  That is not a misprint.  Playing on their home field, the Hurricane managed to go the entire match without being on the wrong end of the referee's whistle. That included the final few minutes of the game when a blatant Hurricane hand-ball was ignored that would have resulted in a free kick distance that was "Taylor"-made for the Fury.  Making that officiating miss even worse, the referee called Bri Gray for the same foul just a minute later. 

 

The Fury defense held strong for the final play of the game, a corner kick by the Hurricane that bounced harmlessly behind the Fury goal as the final whistle sounded, and the draw was in the books.  Strong defense was on display all night long.  Kelsi Fitzgerald collected 4 defensive clearances and 2 tackles.  Rylee Langerman, before departing the game with a knock on her ankle, had 3 clerances, 2 tackles and 9 connecting passes.  Emma Base added 3 tackles to her team-high 7 clearances. And, of course, no clean sheet is achieved wthout strong goal-keeper play.  Allison Austin turned away all 7 Hurricane shots, and had a strong night with her punts and goal kicks.  And, Allison made a variety of catches on a night when the cold air made that activity tougher than usual. 

 

The Fury midfielders were very engaged on this night.  Ally Mayberry  was a stat-stuffer with team-highs in shots on goal and headers (4) to go with 2 tackles and 8 connecting passes.  Maddy Childers racked up a team-high 7 tackles and helped maintain possession with 10 connecting passes.  Megan Jones had a shot on goal, and recorded 4 tackles and connected on 5 passes. Cassidy Potter made her regular season debut with the Fury and threaded 3 passes to her teammates and also had a defensive clearance.

 

Jenna Miller dished out 2 pancakes  to go with her 2 headers, 3 clearances, 2 tackles and 3 connecting passes.  Rotating between the offensive and defensive sides of the field, Katie Fowler put in her normal shift of blood, sweat and tears, with 2 shots on goal, 2 fouls, a pancake, 3 clearances, 3 tackles, 2 corner kicks and 5 connecting passes.

 

No one who watched this game would render any other verdict than the Fury controlling the game and being deserving of a victory. The Fury's dedication to work on their attackign skills showed, with 92 completed passes and 10 shots on goal.   The Fury now have several weeks off before their next OPL match. The Fury faithful will be hoping that the work on offense continues, and that goals and wins are in their future.  

 

January 27, 2013 -- Michael Brown Winter Classic (Frisco, Texas), Game 4 -- "Fury Find Redemption, Even in Defeat"

 

Finally, the 01 Fury (Schoene) put it all together and showcased the effort and talent that their fans crave.  Although the Fury lost 1-0 to the 01 Sting North (Hilton), that is not what mattered.  Rather, what mattered is that the Fury dominated the match in terms of possession and shots on goal, and most importantly, hustle and heart.

 

Just three minutes into the game, Keely Chapman and Turner Mattingly-Hardnen combined on a nifty give and go that resulted in a Fury corner kick.  Just three minutes later these two combined again to free Turner in space.  Turner broke free into the box and unleashed a bullet that seemed destined for goal.  However, a superb kick save from the Sting keeper denied Turner the goal.

 

The Fury kept up the pressure.  In the 13th minute Katie Fowler sent a great cross to Ally Mayberry.  Ally wound up to shoot but the traffic in the box was too congested, and the shot never materialized. 

 

In the final three minutes of the half the Fury made a frenzied run at the goal.  Turner fired over the crossbar.  Jaycie Thomas had a strong effort blocked by a well placed defender. And, Cara Compton penetrated the Sting back line with a long run.  When the first half whistle sounded, the score was 0-0, but all in attendance knew the Fury were on the rise.

 

The Fury's intensity ebbed for a few minutes at the beginning of the second half, and the Sting came very close to scoring twice in the opening minutes.  Katie righted the ship in the 5th minute placing a wonderful cross into the box that threatened to do damage. 

 

In the 11th minute Turner won a free kick, but her resulting long distance effort was pushed wide by the wind.  Just one minte later, Turner, who was a dynamo all over the field, got possession and found herself alone with only the keeper to beat.  Turner's shot was a steamer, but it went inches too high.  Moments later the Fury had a scrum in front of the goal and Bri Gray had two shots at goal that nearly gave the Fury the goal they deserved.

 

It was only then that disaster struck.  On a long counter-attack after the scrum, the Sting fast-breaked their way down the field and put the only ball that Allison Austin could not save on the day into the net. 

 

The Fury fought and clawed, looking for the equalizer.  In the 27th minute, Jaycie Thomas came close.  Jaycie used her strong leg to send a long distance effort that was bobbled by the keeper and nearly found its way into the net.  It was not be, though, and the whistle sounded to end the game and the Fury's time in Frisco.

 

Turner led the team with 6 shots on goal.  Jaycie added 4 shots and Bri and Katie put up two shots of their own. Ally Mayberry and Cara Compton rounded out the shots on goal with one a piece.

 

Turner led the team with 3 pancakes.  Ally owned the air with 5 headers. Elle Abbey was tops with 7 defensive clearances, followed by Emma with 6 and Kelsi Fitzgerald with 4.  Kelsi's 5 tackles led the team, and Maddy Childers and Jenna Miller were nipping at her heels with 4 per player.  Turner connected on an amazing 16 passes, leading a strong midfield effort that saw Megan Jones, Maddy and Ally connect on 8 passes each.  Rylee Langerman showed that the defenders can pass as well, leading all back line players in connected passes.

 

A draw and three losses for the tournament, even in the Platinum Division, is nothing to write home about.  But, watching your team grow up and hold each other accountable is.  Good job Fury.  We look forward to brighter days ahead.

 

January 27, 2013 -- Michael Brown Winter Classic (Frisco, Texas), Game 3 -- "Fury Mail it in"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) looked listless and punchless Sunday morning, and the 01 Solar Chelsea took full advantage, thumping the Fury 4-0 in game 3 of the tourney.  Forward Keely Chapman sat out this contest due to illness.  The fans watching the game looked sick  as well. 

 

It was probably a bad omen for the morning when Bri Gray took two separate shots to the face within 30 seconds.  The Solar team took the lead in the 13th minute when Allison Austin was unsighted on an angular shot. 

 

Cara Compton was one of the few bright spots for the Fury.  In the 17th minute, Cara used her body to make space and sent a rainbow shot at goal that tested the keeper.  It was a welcome relief to see the shot take after no shots were taken the night before in game two.

 

The Fury's best chance of scoring came in the 19th minute.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden stole a pass and made a wonderful cross to Jenna Miller.  Jenna took aim aat goal and fired and her shot was handled in the box by a Solar defender.  Turner stepped up to take the penalty kick, and fired a strong effort.  Unfortunately, the Solar net-minder made a diving save and teh Fury were denied. 

 

In the 28th minute, Turner again came close, but her shot dribbled wide.  The score was 1-0 at halftme.

 

It was after half that the Fury self-destructed.  The Fury surrendered goals in the 3rd, 20th and 22nd minutes, making the score 4-0.  The Fury had few chances.  Bri Gray came close, nearly putting in a goal during a goal mouth scrum.  Finally, in the 28th minute, Cara Compton galloped down the sideline and squeezed off an impressive shot from a tough angle that landed in the side netting. 

 

Allison Austin had 7 saves on the morning.  Maddy Childers led the team with 4 headers and 3 pancakes.  Kelsi Fitzgerald, Elle Abbey and Emma Base led the team in clearances, with 5 each.  Ally Mayberry and Turner shared top honors with 5 tackles a player. Maddy and Turner led with 9 connecting passes, followed closely by Megan Jones with 7.  Jenna Miller and Cara Compton led the team with 2 shots on goal a piece.  Katie Fowler racked up 2 pancakes, a clearance, 3 tackles and 4 connecting passes.  Jaycie Thomas connected on 3 passes and Rylee Langerman had a productive day, putting up a header, 2 clearances, 2 tackles and 4 connected passes.

 

No amount of statistics is very impressive when you don't have a goal by your tean nanme.  Coach Schoene made that clear post-game, forcing the girls to have a team-only meeting to clear the air.  Time will tell if it makes a difference.  Today, though, the results were discouraging.

 

January 26, 2013 -- Michael Brown Winter Classic (Frisco, Texas), Game 2 -- "Dallas Texans Outclass Fury"

 

It was a frustrating night for the 01 Fury (Schoene) as the 01 Dallas Texans had their way racking up a 3-0 victory.  The Fury failed to register a single shot on goal, and the Texans were technically superior, building up play from the back line, and reversing the field at will. 

 

There would be few bright spots in this game for the Fury.  Goal-stopper Allison Austin had a busy night between the pipes, Allison had 11 saves on the night to keep the scoreline from getting completely out of control, including a strong aerial save in the first minute of the game.  The Fury's best chance at goal in the first half took place when winger Katie Fowler intercepted a pass and made a charging run into the Texan right corner.  But, Katie's cross was blocked by a Texan defender and the opportunity passed without a shot. 

 

The score was 2-0 at halftime.  The Fury could take some solace in the fact that they held the Texans to a single goal in the second half.  Defender Emma Base and midfielder Ally Mayberry combined to clear a ball from danger that was threatening to further pad the Texan advantage.  Later, the a Texan forward thumped a shot off the post, and Maddy Childers was on hand to sweep the ball from danger and prevent another goal  

 

Emma Base, Katie Fowler and Kesli Fitzgerald shared team high honors with 5 defensive clearances per player.  Emma and Katie also led the way with 5 tackles per player, with Megan Jones just behind with 4 clearances of her own.  Katie led the team with 7 completed passes, followed closely by Bri Gray, Emma and Turner Mattingly-Harnden with 6 passes completed a piece

 

Rylee Langerman connedcted on 5 passes and collected 3 tackles.  Elle Abbey contribued a clearance and a tackle.  Jenna Miller had a tackle and 3 passes on target.  Keely Chapman put a pancake on the board to go with a tackle and 3 passes.  Jaycie Thomas posted 2 tackles and a clearance, and Cara Compton led the team by drawing two free kicks off of Texan fouls. 

 

As the Fury trudged off the field, spirits were low.  Good thing that a wonderful meal compliments of Kris Abbey was waiting for the team and fans upon their return to the hotel!

 

January 26, 2013 -- Michael Brown Winter Classic (Frisco, Texas), Game 1 -- "Fury Neither Sting Nor are Stung"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) opened play in the Michael Brown Winter Classic Saturday morning on the FC Dallas fields, squaring off against the 01 Sting East (Guiterrez).  Although the Fury dominated the game throughout, they could not find the breakthrough, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw. 

 

The temperature hovered in the high 40's and a slight drizzle fell on the pitch, as the game was whistled to action at half past ten in the morning. From the outset, the Fury held the lion's share of possesion. However, neither team had mounted much of a challenge to goal until around the 20 minute mark.  A Sting forward took advantage of a fortuitous bounce and broke free into the Fury box.  Keeper Allison Austin made the save of the game, rushing out to meet the oncoming Sting player, with the ball rolling away from danger after a collision in which Allison pawed the ball away from the control of the Sting forward.

 

That close call seemed to galvanize the Fury.  Midfielder Turner Mattingly-Harnden signaled the Fury's attacking intent, taking aim from the right flank and sending a soaring shot that just barely passed over the cross-bar. Ally Mayberry came even closer just minutes later. Ally rolled a shot towards goal from inside the box, catching the Sting net-minder off her line.  The ball was agonizingly close to finding the back of the net, but trickled just wide.  Ally fought for and won a corner kick not long after, and the Fury maintained their momentum.

 

Meanwhile, the Fury back line was stout.  Buoyed by the return of Rylee Langerman, who has been sidelined during most of the Winter with a wrist injury, the Fury defenders showed no cracks.  Emma Base led all players with 9 clearances to go with her 4 tackles and 3 pancakes (team high).  Rylee had 4 clearances.  Kelsi Fitzgerald chipped in with 3 clearances and Elle Abbey doled out 2 clearances and 2 tackles.

 

The Fury came out in the second half a step slow, and were lucky not to concede a goal early in the second half on a broken play that left a Sting player in a position to take a shot on goal. Again, though, the Fury came to life and took over the game.  First, forward Keely Chapman was robbed of an opportunity to stake the Fury to a lead.  Keely made a strong run all the way to the edge of the Sting box, where she was toppled by a Sting defender who resorted to pulling Keely down rather than watch her flash by.  The referee had a decison to make, and ruled that the foul occurred just outside of the box, rather than inside, which would have given the Fury a justified penalty kick.  Keely took the ensuing free kick, but her near post effort was gathered by the Sting keeper.

 

The Fury midfield began to string together passes and set up goal-scoring opportunities.  Maddy Childers picked out Turner in space freeing her for a shot on goal that was saved.  Not long after, Megan Jones won a challenge on the right flank of the Sting box and unleashed a bending shot at goal that gave the Sting goalkeeper a tough ball to handle. 

 

The Fury were now down to the final 10 minutes, and a frenzy of offensive action was in order.  Cara Compton made several strong runs, penetrating the Sting back line. One one of those runs Cara leapt into the air and collided with a Sting defender.  Jaycie Thomas was on hand to gather the rebound.  Jaycie then set off on a mazy run, holding possession against two defenders at a time, finally pancaking both of them and leaving them in a heap before whistling a shot at goal.

 

Jenna Miller was the next to apply pressure. All game long the Sting defense failed to cover the back post, but the Fury's service on crosses was lacking, so this defensive lapse had not been exploited.  Jenna was the break-throuh on this issue, making a fine run down the left channel and then whipping a picture-perfect cross that glided past the goal's mouth, just narrowly missing the galloping Jaycie. 

 

The Fury's final chance may have been its best.  Turner linked up once again with Maddy, with Maddy this time supplying a pass to Turner on the edge of the box that Turner squared on and fired at goal.  The shot drew a diving save out of the Sting keeper, and for the briefest of moments it appeared the shot might squirt underneath her.  It was not to be, though, and the game came to its conclusion about 60 seconds later, knotted up at zeros.

 

Allison Austin posted the clean sheet, turning away 5 Sting shots.  The Fury nearly doubled that number of shots, with Turner leading the way with 4 shots, followed by Keely with 2 shots and Megan, Maddy and Ally all having one shot a piece.

 

Bri Gray was strong on the wing, winnig several challenges and finishing the day with 2 tackles. On the other wing, Katie Fowler put in her usual strong shift, with a tackle, a clearance and a strong day of connecting passes. Maddy helped anchor a strong midfield performance leading the team with 4 tackles and adding 4 clearances. Rylee Langerman led the team with 2 headers on a cold day where using your noggin doesn't sound that appealing. 

 

The Fury now have a few hours of down time before lacing up the cleats for a 6:00 match-up with the 01 Dallas Texans, who vanquished the Sting 2-0 last night.  Meaning the Fury better get ready to bring it tonight, as the schedule for this tournament is as grueling as it is challenging.

 

January 18, 2013 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "All Hail the Champions!!!"

 

Putting the finishing touches on an undefeated indoor season, the 01 Fury (White) prevailed in a clash of the titans at the top of the U11/12 Division, securing a championship with a 7-5 victory over the Clinton Fusion.  It was a grudge match throughout, with agitation, well-placed elbows and fierce competition. 

 

The Fury jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when speed merchant Cara Compton whipped in a cross from Keely Chapman.  The Fury doubled the lead midway through the half.  Maddy Childers drew a penalty kick after being toppled in the box at the end of a nice run.  Keely Chapman's penalty kick was wide of the mark, but Ashlee Cabbiness was Johnny on the spot, firing in the rebound past the Fusion keeper.  Goalkeeper Taylor Rosenquist was sharp between the pipes, but the Fusion were persistent, and by the end of the first stanza, the score was 3-2 in favor of the blue shirts from Clinton.

 

In the second half Allison Austin donned a keeper jersey and the Fury ran back on the field with 25 minutes left to change their collective fortune.   It did not take long. 

 

First, Keely turned an assist from Katie Fowler into a tying goal, knotting up the game at 3.  The Fury took the lead for good when Hannah Knehans latched onto a perfect cross from Keely and lashed a one-timer into the back of the net, making the score 4-3.  Ashlee provided further breathing room for the Fury when she converted an assist from Katie Fowler into her second goal of the day.

 

Keely kept up the assault, making the score 6-3 when she blasted in a shot from the right channel after being set up an assist from Maddy Childers.  The Fusion pulled one back on a penalty kick to make it 6-4 (Allison saved 2 other PK's in the half).  But, Katie Fowler salted away the win with a late goal courtesy of an assist from Keely.  Although the Fury surrendered a meaningless goal with less than a minute to go to make the final score 7-5, the Fury crowd was applauding the championship before the whistle even sounded. 

 

The Spring outdoor season beckons.  For today, though, the Fury can bask in a total team-effort, that made all of them indoor Soccer City champions.  Congrats to Eden, Ashlee, Amity, Cara, Hannah,Taylor, Maddy, Keely, Katie and Allison.

 

January 18, 2013 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Clinton Fusion Squeak By the Fury"

 

The 01 Fury (Green) staged a pulsating comeback, but came up just short and lost to the Clinton Fusion by a scoreline of 5-4.  Katie Fowler opened up the scoring in the contest off a square pass assist from Keely Chapman.  However, it was 2-1 in favor of the Fusion at the end of the first half.  Allison Austin was available as goalkeeper and it was her fine work that kept the game close.  

 

In the second half the Fusion jumped out to a 3 goal lead, and with 13 minutes left the Fury were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline. That is when the comeback began.  First, Katie Fowler uncorked a fantastic free kick that squirted past the Fusion keeper.  Next, Keely Chapman took an assist from Amelia Saliba and ripped a shot that  made the score 4-3 as the Fury scored twice in two minutes. 

 

With 7 minutes left, the Fusion won a penalty kick.  Allison made the save (one of 3 PK's she saved in a game plagued by a whistle-happy referee), but after she parried the kick, the ball was put in the back of the net on the rebound.

 

Katie completed her hat-trick with an unassisted goal with just minutes left to play.  Unfortunately, though, despite a frenzy of chances in the waning seconds, the Fury came up empty and the buzzer sounded with the Fury facing a one goal defecit.

 

Despite the loss, the 01 Fury (Green) had a great indoor season, winning 5 of 8 (with the 3 losses by a combined 5 goals), and finishing in 4th place in the division (out of 10 teams). The Fury faithful are proud of these girls! Congrats to Cassidy, Avery, Amelia, Taylor, Josie, Rylee, Rachael and Audrey.

 

January 18, 2013 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Put the Squeeze on the Lemonheads"

 

The Lemonheads have played the role of the punching bag for many teams this indoor season.  Today, it was the turn of the 01 Fury (Green) to pummel the yellow-clad team.  The stats certainly piled up in this contest.  Keely Chapman led the way with 5 goals and 4 assists.  Cassidy Potter put her mark on the game with 4 goals and an assist.  Avery Holland was dynamite, depositing 3 goals and adding 2 assists.  Josie Wiley and Amelia Saliba matched box scores with 2 goals and an assist per player. 

 

You can't score all those goals without someone pulling the strings.  Taylor had 2 assists, as did Rachael Olsen.  Maddy Childers and Rylee Roberts had an assist per player.  And, no shut-out is ever complete, without the defensive stylings of Katie Fowler, who bruised and battered the Lemonheads to a literal and figuratie pulp. 

 

January 11, 2013 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Make OFC See Red"

 

The 01 Fury (Green) continued their rise in the U11/12 Soccer City standings with a 6-2 triumph over the 02 OFC (Red).  Katie Fowler was the hat-trick hero, scoring the first 3 goals of the match for the Fury.  Keely Chapman netted 2 goals and Josie Wiley finished off the scoring with the final goal of the contest, to cap a fine afternoon when paired with her assist on one of Katie's goals.  Maddy Childers assisted on Josie's goal, a fine reverse field pass that picked Josie out in space. That was one of Maddy's team-high 3 assists on the day. 

 

The game was tied 1-1 at halftime.  Maddy was the goalkeepr in the first half, and although unfamiliar to the position, she acquitted herself well, with a penalty kick save and a slide tackle save on another close OFC effort.  In the second half Rachael Olsen was the net-minder, and she was a menace to the OFC squad.  Rachael corralled an OFC penalty kick, and she made a diving save at the corner of the goal, which were the highlights of strong second stanza in which she gave up only a single goal. 

 

It was a great team effort, and the game leaves the 01 Fury (Green) in a great position heading into the final weekend of the indoor season as they chase a top 3 finish. 

 

January 11, 2013 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Lower the Boom"

 

The Sonic Boom proved to be no challenge for the 01 Fury (White), as they Fury dispatched the Lawton squad by a score of 16-0.  Taylor Rosenquist pitched a shutout in goal, recording a clean sheet by turning away all shots sent her way.  Hannah Knehans memorialized a special day with 4 goals and 2 assists.  A special day because with her quartet of goals, Hannah exceeded her personal challenge for number of goals on the indoor season, which will result in Hannah receving a "mystery gift" from parents Jeff and Jessica.  Word on the street is that the mystery gift is furry, has four legs and likes to lick people it likes.  Way to go Hannah!

 

Cara Compton and Ashlee Cabbiness matched Hannah, each posting 4 goals of their own. Cara added 3 assists and Ashlee had a pair of assists to her credit.  Keely Chapman played her usual pivotal role in the offense, scoring 2 goals and dispensing a team-high 4 assists. Maddy Childers posted a goal and an assist.  Eden Holetzky joined in the fun with a a goal of her own.  Katie Fowler and Amity both assisted on goals.  Audrety Friedemann sat out the contest with a sore knee, but still showed up to cheer on her teammates.

 

The victory leaves just one game left on the calendar for the 01 Fury (White).  A date with destiny, as they will square off against the Clinton Fusion in a match-up that will determine the champion of the U11/12 Division. 

 

January 4, 2013-- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Better Than Double PC United"

 

The 01 Fury (Green) got back to their winning ways, posting an 11-5 victory over 02 PC United.  The Fury had a 7-1 lead at halftime that was built on 2 goals from Avery Holland, 2 goals from Cassidy Potter, as well as goals from Maddy Childers, Keely Chapman and the final goal of the half from Katie Fowler, who used quick reflexes to richochet a shot over the beleagured United goalkeeper's head.  Keely Chapman handled the role of play-maker, handing out 3 assists in the first half, while Amelia Saliba used a pass off the wall to gather the other assist in the first half.

 

Maddy Childers bagged the first two goals of the second half to give herself a hat-trick for the game.  Her final goal was a sliding effort at the end of a break-away supplied by Keely who assisted on both of Maddy's second-half goals to give her a team-high 5 assists for the game.  Rachael Olsen and Avery Holland closed out the scoring, with both of their goals assisted by Allison Austin.  Rachael's strike was fired in after she scrambled to her feet in the middle of a scrum just in time to bury a fine shot. Avery's goal finished off a mazy run, and gave her a hat-trick on the afternoon.  The goal-keeping duties were shared by multiple players in the game, with the majority of time between the pipes spent by Keely and Maddy who didn't look half bad for a couple of newbies to net-minding.   Of course, they got a lot of help from the Fury defense, including an incredible goal-line clearance from Rylee Roberts. 

 

January 4, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Hold off OFC Boreham"

 

The 01 Fury (White) held on for a 6-4 victory in a pulsating affair with the 01 OFC (Boreham).  The Fury built a 3-0 lead by halftime courtesy of goals from Keely Chapman, Hannah Knehans and Cara Compton.  Eden Holetzky set the table with an assist on the first goal.  Keely assisted Hannah's strike, and Maddy Childers was the provider for Cara's goal.  Allison Austin made her first appearance of the season and was brilliant in goal, turning away all of the OFC shots to preserve the first half clean sheet before giving way to Taylor Rosenquist who would patrol the goal in the second half.

 

In the second stanza it was Cara and Keely who built on the lead.  Keely had the assist on Cara's goal, and then she scored the second unasisted.  Meanwhile, though, the OFC squad kept battling, eventually tying up the contest at 4.   The score was 5-4 in favor of the Fury with on minute left when a penalty kick was awarded to OFC.  However, Taylor Rosenquist made the save of the day, pushing the PK over the goal after making a fine stab with her gloved hands.  Just seconds later Eden Holetzky gathered the rebound and made a perfect pass to Cara Compton who completed her hat-trick with her third goal of the game, giving Eden her second assist in the process.  Fury fans could breathe a sigh of relief, as the 01 Fury (White) remained undefeated and in first place with just 2 games left in the indoor season.   

 

December 29, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Pound United"

 

The purple-clad 02 PC United were no match for the 01 Fury (White), as the Fury rolled 13-2.  Keely Chapman racked up 4 goals and 3 assists.  Maddy Childers posted 2 goals and 3 assists.  Cara Compton netted 2 goals. 

 

Hannah Knehans had a laser shot to score a goal, and she tallied 2 assists.  Katie Fowler, Ally Mayberry and Ashlee Cabbiness scored a goal a piece, and Audrey Friedemann got a piece of the action with her first goal of the season on a picture perfect finish off an assist from Keely Chapman. 

 

December 29, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury versus OFC (White), Round 2"

 

A week after the other half of the Fury narrowly beat the same team, the 01 Fury (Green) lost a heart-breaker to the 02 OFC (White) (Cole) by the score of 3-2.  Keely Chapman scored the Fury's first goal.  Ally Mayberry muscled in the second goal.  However, the OFC managed to score the winning goal in the final minute of regulation, just 30 seconds after Katie Fowler was only inches away from securing victory on a penalty kick.   

 

December 22, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Prevail in Tussle With OFC White"

 

In a hard-fought affair, the 01 Fury (White) held on to beat the 02 OFC (White) (Cole) by a score of 5-4. The win pushed the 01 Fury (White) to the top of the U11-U12 table. 

 

Katie Fowler and Keely Chapman were the chief architects of the OFC's demise.  Katie put in 2 Fury goals.  Keely had 2 goals of her own and an assist.  Ashlee Cabbiness rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist.  Cara Compton led the team with 2 assists.  New Fury girl Amity teed up Keely for what proved to be the game winner with her first assist of the season.   

 

December 22, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Crack the Whip on the Lady Leopards"

 

It was time for the 01 Fury (Green) to take their crack at the 02 Lady Leopards, dispatching them by a score of 20-0.  Keely Chapman continued her assault with 4 goals and 2 assists.  Cassidy Potter piled on with 3 goals and 2 assists.  Josie Wiley, a new Fury face, scored 3 times.

 

Katie Fowler scored twice, and led the team with 5 assists.  Maddy Childers was nipping at Katie's heels, with a goal and 4 assists.  Amelia Saliba was deuces wild, with 2 goals and 2 assists. Avery Holland came close to matching Amelia's total, with a goal and 2 assists to her credit.  Defenders Rylee Roberts and Rachael Olsen collected 2 goals per player, and Rylee added an assist.

 

December 15, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Leopards Feel the Fury"

 

Although the 01 Fury (Schoene) squad no longer had any indoor games to play, the 01 Fury (Fain/White) still had most of the season to go.  The team was split into two smaller groups - 01 Fury (Green) and 01 Fury (White).  A few members of the 01 Fury (Schoene) joined in on the fun, most notably Keely Chapman, Katie Fowler and Maddy Childers, with occassonal cameo appearances by Ally Mayberry and Allison Austin. 

 

On this day it was the 01 Fury (White) who dueled with the 02 Lady Leopards.  The Fury pummeled the Leopards by the score of 13-0.  The leading goal-scorer was Keely Chapman who found paydirt 3 times to go with 2 assists. Katie Fowler shared top honors with Keely, netting 3 goals of her own.  Maddy Childers did her part with 2 goals and 3 assists.

 

The speedy Cara Compton lit up the scoreboard with a goal and 2 assists.  Ashlee Cabbiness fired in a goal and assisted on two other goals.  Hannah Knehans pumped in a goal of her own, and likewise had 2 assists. Audrey Friedemann polished off a nice game with an assist of her own. 

 

December 1, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) -- "Fury Tame the Lady Leopards"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) blitzed the Lady Leopards (Blue) by the score of 13-4.  The author was not witness to this game, as he was called to action at the WinStar Casino, so ther are no official statistics to share.  However, it should be noted that this victory was so comprehensive that it was decided after the game that the Fury were simply too good for the division (which was already an age bracket higher after the demollition of the Lemonheads the week prior), and this proved to be the last game played by the 01 Fury (Schoene) in the Fall 2012 Soccer City Indoor season.  It was fun while it lasted. 

 

November 24, 2012 -- Winter Indoor Season (Soccer City) - "Fury Beat the Lemonheads to a Pulp"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) put the squeeze on the Lemonheads, thumping the outmatched bright yellow opponenets by an astonishing score of 24-0 at John Vance Field at Soccer City.  Striker Jenna Miller peeled the Lemonheads with 6 goals and 3 assists.  Elle Abbey gave the Lemonheads a sour experience, netting 5 goals of her own.  Katie Fowler made Lemonhead fans pucker as they witnessed her 4 goals and an assist.  Maddy Childers squished the Lemonhead defense with a goal and a team-high 4 assists.

 

Keely Chapman and Megan Jones exposed the fleshy rind of the Lemonhead defense registering 2 goals and 2 assists per player.  Defender Kelsi Fitzgerald and goalkeeper Allison Austin were handed lemons with not much to do against the hapless opponents, so you guessed it, they made lemonade out of lemons, with Kelsi moving up to capture 2 goals, and Allison taking a turn in the field and tallying 2 goals and an assist.  Bri Gray helped seed the victory with an assist and a team-high 15 shots on goal.

 

All in all, the Fury performance was no lemon.  OK, I think I have run out of puns.

 

November 11, 2012 -- Game 3 (Semi-Finals), NYSA Classic Cup - "Fury Fall in Family Feud"

 

It was all in the family for the 01 Fury (Schoene) who faced off against the 00 Fury (Green) in the semi-finals of the U13 Gold Division at the NYSA Classic Cup.  In the first bitter cold of the season, the elder Fury prevailed by a score of 5-1.  Hours later the 00 Fury captured the championship, which means that the 01 Fury finish the Fall campaign with three tournaments entered, three semi-finals appearances and three times that the team which vanquished the Fury in the semi-finals has gone on to win the silverware. 

 

The 01 Fury entered this contest knowing that they faced a major challenge. After all, it was just about a month ago that the 00 Fury schooled the younger Fury in a 8-1 scrimmage victory.  However, it was the 01 Fury that struck first on this day. 

 

Just three and a half minutes into the first half, winger Bri Gray was bundled in the box by a 00 Fury defender.  The referee pointed to the spot, much to the consternation of 00 Fury Coach Scott Carter.  Keely Chapman thanked Bri for her assist by cooly firing the penalty kick into the right hand corner.  Just like that, the youngsters had jumped out to a surprise lead.

 

The 01 Fury held that lead until the 7th minute, when the 00 Fury began to find their stride. A muffed clearance on the wet pitch left a 00 Fury player in perfect position to slot home the equalizer. 

 

The two teams remained deadlocked for a long spell, thanks primarily to strong work from goalkeeper Allison Austin.  Allison made a fine save on a strong free kick in the 16th minute. Then in the 22nd minute Allison reached full extension while pushing a shot around the post. 

 

With just one minute left in the half the 00 Fury finally took the lead. Allison managed to get her mitts on the well placed ball above her head.  Unfortunately, the shot had just enough fizz to trickle beyond Allison and into the goal.  The 01 Fury entered halftime down 2-1. 

 

In the second half, the 01 Fury kept fighting, but the writing was on the wall.  In the 5th minute the 00 girls chalked up their third goal when Allison's save was smartly headed in by a perfectly positioned 00 player. In the 12th minute, a marauding 00 Fury player sent a wicked cross into the 01 box, and with no marking on the back post, an 00 player was all alone for the tap-in to make the score 4-1. 

 

Allison kept her head up,though, and in the 18th minute she made a beautiful save, one of 17 she would register on this frigid afternoon.  The 00 Fury put the finishing touches on the scoring with a few minutes left in the match.  The final scoreline was 5-1, but any spectator of this match could tell you that the score does no justice to the effort of the younger Fury, or the improvement they have shown since the last time they squared off against their fellow Fury. 

 

Kelsi Fitzgerald led all defenders with 5 clearances, followed closely by Rylee Langerman who collected 4 of her own.  Elle Abbey led the team with 4 tackles and added 3 clearances.  Emma Base pitched in with 2 clearances and used her imposing frame to collect a pancake of a 00 player. 

 

Keely Chapman and Jenna Miller managed the only two shots on goal for the 01 Fury.  Bri Gray continued her aggressive streak in the Classic Cup, posting two more pancakes, to lead the team in this category for the weekend.

 

Maddy Childers led all midfielders with 3 tackles, including a crunching challenge deep in the corner of Fury territory that pancaked the 00 player and left her sliding on the slick grass all the way out of bounds.  Ally Mayberry was one of he few brave souls willing to use her noggin on the rock hard ball, getting yet another header to cement her status as the top Fury player in the air for the weekend. 

 

Turner Mattingly-Harnden and Katie Fowler teamed up for two pancakses, a clearance and a tackle. Megan Jones dueled with her cousin Emma all afternoon, and as is always the case, never backed down to anyone, collecting a header and a tackle on the day.  Jacie Evans and Karlee Alonzo continued their strong play as guest players, with Jacie putting a tally in the box for headers, and Karlee putting two tackles by her name.

 

After the final whistle sounded, the 01 Fury left the field, retreating to warm homes and hot cocoa.  But, their heads were  held high, secure in the knowledge that every loss to an older and more experienced team is just another step in their evolution to becoming a championship caliber team.  

 

November 10, 2012 -- Game 2, NYSA Classic Cup - "Gone With the Wind"

 

Mother Nature left her mark on the second preliminary round game of the 01 Fury (Schoene).  The Fury fought 30 MPH winds as well as the 00 International FC, and the combination was just too much for the Fury, as they were downed by a score of 2-1.  The good news is that the Fury still qualified for Sunday's semi-finals round.  The bad news is that with the loss, the Fury squandered the chance to capture the top seed in the U13 Gold Division Bracket B.

 

The game got started at 2:30, shortly after a squadron of fighter jets blazed across the sky on their way to a Veterans Day celebration at Owen Field where OU was hosting Baylor.  Less than 60 seconds into the match the Fury knocked at the door of opportunity.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden found Keely Chapman with a clever pass.  Keely took the pass and made a strong run which resulted in a Fury corner kick. 

 

Not long after, Keely drew a foul at the edge of the International FC box.  Keely stepped up to take the free kick and launched a missle that was only narrowly gathered by the International goalkeeper. 

 

The unforgiving wind took its toll on the Fury in the 21st minute.  The Fury defense was momentarily frozen when the players mistook a whistle from an adjoining field for a call on their own field.  An alert International player took advantage of the momentary pause in action and lofted a shot towards the Fury goal.  The ball was caught in the swirling vortex of wind, and what should have been a routine grab for Allison Austin, became a maddening exercise in the power of Oklahoma winds.  The ball's trajectory took an abrupt change and while Allison got a paw on the ball, it still managed to trickle over the goal line, giving the Texan team a 1-0 lead. 

 

In the 27th minute, the Fury made a bid for an equalizer.  Turner teed up Jacie Evans with a pass that left Jacie open in the box.  However, Jacie's shot lost its steam when an Internatoinal defender made a fine tackle from behind, and the shot was comfortably gathered by the keeper.

 

In the 30th minute Allison Austin made a wonderful diving save to ensure that the Fury did not face a greater defecit at halftime.  The whistle sounded minutes later and the Fury players huddled up for instructions from Coach Schoene.

 

Unfortunately, disaster struck just 51 seconds into the second half.  A long pass into the Fury box richocheted around like a pinball, until a scuffed cleaance left the ball at the feet of an International forward who found the corner of the net, to make the scoreline 2-0.

 

The second goal by the opposition seemed to awaken the Fury, who had been lethargic up to that point in time.  In the third minute, the Fury signalled their attacking intent when Turner smoked one of her team high 5 shots at goal, thumping the net-minder's mitts, but failing to find the goal the Fury so coveted. 

 

The Fury's prospects looked bleak when the International squad scored again a few minutes later, but a much deserved offsides call negated the score, giving the Fury a life-line. 

 

Turner made the most of the life-line in the 11th minute.  Turner took matters into her own hands, weaving her way through several defenders, culminating in a blast from short distance that left the International goalie flat-footed, able only to watch Turner's shot blaze over her head.  The score was 2-1 and the Fury had hope.

 

The Fury were relentless from that point forward.  Needing only a draw to secure the top seed in Bracket B, the Fury came agonizingly close to finding the necessary goal. 

 

In the 12th minute, midfielder Megan Jones made a fantastic tackle to rob an International player of possession.  Megan then dropped a perfect pass into the path of Turner who forced a fine save out of the Texan keeper. A minute later Ally Mayberry rose up in traffic and met a Turner cross, heading a shot towards goal, that was again saved.

 

With 11 minutes left in the game, the Fury came within feet, if not inches, of the equalizer.  The Fury had the box packed with offensive players and a shot was smothered by the sliding International keeper.  The goalie bobbled the ball as she slid, though, and Maddy Childers rushed in and toe poked the loose ball.  For a moment, it appeared that Maddy's shot would roll past the unattended goal line, but at the final moment it was cleared off the line by a hustling defender. 

 

Two minutes later the Fury had another opportunity snuffed out.  Turner stepped in front of a goal kick and sent a pass across the goal's mouth.  Jacie Evans took the pass at the far post and fired a shot at the corner of the goal.  The International goalie would not be beaten this day, though, and she made a diving save to deny Jacie and the Fury.

 

In the 35th minute, the Fury had one final gasp.  Turner sent a free kick into the box that appeared to be headed towards Keely Chapman.  Unfortunately, the wind played one last trick, and gusted the ball past Keely's reach.  The Fury were out of time, and the rally had come up short. 

 

Kelsi Fitzgerald led a strong defensive effort, collecting a team high 5 clearances and 2 tackles.  Rylee Langerman, Elle Abbey and Emma Base combined for 6 more clearances and 3 tackles.  Allison Austin added 10 saves to her impressive season tally that has now eclipsed the century mark.

 

The Fury actually out-shot the International FC, with 14 shots.  The headliner was Turner with 5 shots on goal.  Joining her with shots were Keely, Ally and Jacie with 2 shots per player, and Katie Fowler, Jenna Miller and Maddy with one shot a piece.

 

Bri Gray wowed the Fury crowd with a nice bit of hustle and determination.  Bri won possession with a strong tackle on the near sideline, and before making the connecting pass, Bri put an exclamation on the play with a devastating pancake that left the opposing player watching action from her backside.

 

Megan Jones shared the team lead with Elle and Ally with 2 tackles, and Maddy, Ally and Karlee Alonzo were top of the charts with 2 headers per player. 

 

The Fury will likely face more adverse weather Sunday morning in the semi-finals, with rain and dropping temperatures in the forecast.  But, the Fury will be happy to have a chance to keep on playing, come sun, rain or yes, even wind. 

 

November 9, 2012 -- Game 1, NYSA Classic Cup - "Fury Administer a Friday Night Smack Down"

 

When it comes to tournament play, the 01 Fury (Schoene) have been sharp this season.  Friday night proved to be no exception, as the Fury rolled to a 2-0 victory over the 00 Canadian Valley Football Club in the opening match of the NYSA Classic Cup. 

 

The Fury entered the game without the services of Jaycie Thomas, sidelined by a foot injury.  However, the Fury had a couple of new faces, with guest players Jacie Evans and Karlee Alonzo, who are donning the Fury green for the weekend. 

 

The game kicked off at 5:30, and it did not take long for the action to kick into high gear.  In the fifth minute the Fury held their collective breath as the CVFC squad came whisker cloes to an opening goal.  A CVFC player charged into the Fury box and let fly with a low drive.  The ball struck the inside of the post, but fortune smiled on the Fury as the ball carommed away but stayed inches short of the goal line, giving a scrambling Allison Austin tme to dive on the loose ball and secure it.

 

In the 10th minute the CVFC team once again came close to paydirt.  This time a CVFC midfielder found space and unleashed a thunderous shot that was goalward bound.  However, Fury midfielder Ally Mayberry bravely stood her ground and blocked the shot.  It was Ally's solar plexus that took the brunt of the blow, leaving Ally short of breath for a moment.  The pain faded quickly, though, and Ally's effort drew raves from the crowd, which appreciated the fact that Ally may very well have stopped a sure goal.

 

In the 11th minute the Fury found their stride.  Defender Kelsi Fitzgerald was the catalyst.  Kelsi played a picture perfect long ball from just inside the midfield stripe to forward Keely Chapman inside the CVFC box.  Keely deftly settled the assist, and then sent a glorious arcing shot over the opposing team's goalkeeper and into the back of the net, making the score 1-0 in favor of the good guys.

 

The goal seemed to galvanize the Fury offense, as the Fury menaced the CFVC defense for the balance of the first half. In the 16th minute, Turner Mattingly-Harnden sprung Jacie Evans with a brilliant through ball, but Jacie's run was cut short by a close offsides call from the sideline judge.  Just a minute later midfielder Maddy Childers spun a pass through the CVFC back line and Turner came close to depositing it into goal after it was bobbled by the keeper who speared Maddy's pass just before it met Turner's foot.

 

In the 25th minute defender Rylee Langerman uncorked a strong free kick that whizzed past a CVFC wall and appeared to strike the hand of a CVFC defender.  The suspicion of hand ball was waived off by the referee though, much to the chagrin of the Fury faithful.

 

In the 29th minute all of the Fury's first hald dominance almost came undone.  A long pass was captured by a CVFC forward who galloped into the clear and had only Allison Austin between her and a goal.  Allison stormed off her line to meet the oncoming attacker and made a heart-stopping save with her foot.  Kelsi Fitzgerald cleared the rebound from danger, and the Fury lead was preserved. 

 

In the second half the Fury again had the lion's share of possession and opportunities.  Keely came very close to doubling the Fury advantage in the 6th minute, but her shot from the left channel was just wide of the mark.  Meanwhile, the Fury shots on goal continued to pile up, with Turner (6), Keely (4), Katie (3), Jacie (2), Jenna Miller (2), Ally (1) and Elle Abbey (1) combining for the Fury's 19 shots on goal.   Jenna Miller was also particularly deadly with her crosses, which were helping to create scoring opportunities.

 

Finally, with five minutes left in the game, the Fury scored the goal that sealed the victory.  Karlee Alonzo got things started with a wonderful chip cross into the six yard box.  Jacie Evans gave the ball a gentle nudge into the path of Turner, and Turner used the assist to fire a bullet one-timer into the net.  The score was 2-0 and the game ended mere minutes later.

 

It was a great team effort for the Fury.  Allison Austin recorded the clean sheet, perhaps with an assist to Graeme Abel, OU's women's soccer assistant coach (and goal-keeping expert), and more importantly Coach Katie Schoene's fiancee, who helped warm up Allison before the game. Of course, Allison had a lot of help from her back line, including Rylee Langerfman and Emma Base who tied for the team with 4 defensive clearances each, Elle Abbey who had 2 clearances and 5 tackles and Kelsi Fitzgerald who had 3 clearances and a tackle to go along with her assist on the first goal of the game.

 

The Fury midfielders were dynamite in this contest, ruling the middle of the pitch.  Ally Mayberry had one of her best games of the year with 4 tackles, 2 clearances, a header, a shot on goal and the aforementioned crucial block of a CVFC shot on goal. Maddy Childers was a demon, leading the team with 7 tackles and consistently stringing together the right passes to build up play to the forwards and wingers.  Megan Jones displayed her usual grit and determination, particularly on a highlight reel pancake that left an older CVFC player on her duff, wondering where the train was that had just hit her.

 

Katie Fowler and Bri Gray were terrific on the wings of the Fury offense.  Katie was a stat-stuffer with 3 shots on goal, a pancake, a header, 4 tackles and she took charge of both corner kicks taken by the Fury.  Bri patrolled the flank and made several fine tackles, and on one play tracked back half of the field to make a great defensive clearance to ward off a CVFC challenge to the Fury goal when the Fury were still clinging to a one goal advantage. 

 

The Fury's next preliminary round game is Saturday afternoon when they will test their mettle against another older team, the 00 International FC out of Texas. If tonight was any indication, the Fury will be up to the challenge.  

 

November 4, 2012 -- OPL Game 7 - "Fury Finish Fall 2012 OPL Season on a Sour Note"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) closed out the Fall 2012 OPL season with a loss to the TSC Hurricane (Howe) by the score of 3-0.  With a victory the Fury could have leapfrogged their way to 4th place in the OPL's upper division.  With the loss, though, the Fury finished the Fall campaign with a 1-2-4 record and a 6th place finish out of 8 teams. 

 

The game kicked off at 1:00 in the afternoon, and the Fury were playing on Field 17, the showcase field of the Gilis-Rother Complex.  The sun was shining and the Fury faithful assembled in the grandstand.

 

In just the third minute, the Hurricane struck for a goal.  The Fury defense fell victim to a wayward clearance that was steered into the middle of the box.  Goalkeeper Allison Austin had no chance as a Hurricane forward pounced on the ball and buried it in the back of the net.

 

Allison had much better luck in the 15th minute.  She rushed out to the edge of the box and fearlessly blocked a point blank shot just before a violent collission with an oncoming Hurricane player. 

 

In the 17th minute Keely Chapman and Jenna Miller combined for a nice give and go that came close to a scoring opportunity.  In the 19th minute Jaycie Thomas made a strong run over half of the field.  Unfortunately, the run came  to an end when Jaycie's cross was intercepted at the tail end of her strong effort.

 

In the 23rd minute, it was defender Rylee Langerman who came to the rescue.  Rylee, who led the team on the day with an amazing 7 tackles, was responsible for a crucial clearane of a Hurricane cross deep in the Fury box.  That remarkable play was the last of the significant action in the first half.  The teams went into half with the Hurricane out in front 1-0.

 

The Fury amped up the offensive pressure in the secnod half.  In the 6th minute, Keely Chapman had one of her team high 6 shots on goal.  But, it was in the 9th minute that Keely was cruelly denied an equalizer.  Keely made a series of superb individual moves to free herself in space in the Hurricane box.  Keely unleashed a shot at goal only to watch it clank off the post, mere inches away from knotting up the score.

 

Katie Fowler took aim at goal in the 13th minute, but her effort was high and wide of the mark.  In the 16th minute, Turner Mattingly-Harnden uncurled one of her trademark crosses that found winger Bri Gray at the back post.  Bri took a shot but it was gathered by the Hurricane goalie. 

 

The Fury kept scrambling, looking for a crack in the Hurricane defense.  In addition to Keely's 6 shots, Katie had 3 shots on goal, Jenna Miller had 2 shots and Bri and Elle Abbey contributed a shot a piece. 

 

Unfotunately, everything unraveled with just 6 minutes left in the contest.  A Fury player was whistled for a foul at the edge of the Fury box.  One of the Hurricane players with a rocket-launcher for a leg took the free kick and sent a soaring shot over Allison's head, making the score 2-0.  Keely attempted to answer with a long run that ended in her shot being smothered by the Hurricane keeper in the 26th minute. 

 

The Hurricane put the finishing touches on their victory in the 28th minute when a Hurricane forward took advantage of a slip by a Fury defender and waltzed into the Fury box where she blew a shot into the corner of the goal.  The damage was done, and the 3-0 victory for the Hurricane was secured.

 

Despite the loss, the Fury had some strong play from its players.  Elle Abbey led the team with 6 defensive clearances and tied for the team lead with Katie with 3 pancakes per player.  Ally Mayberry and Megan Jones continued their aerial mastery, collecting 3 headers each.  Maddy Childers chipped in with three defensive clearances.  Emma Base had 5 clearances of her own, and Kelsi Fitzgerald had 2 clearances and 2 headers.

 

The Fury must quickly put this loss behind them.  The coming weekend beckons, when the Fury will help play host for the NYSA's Classic Cup.  The Fury have been at their best this year when it comes to tournament play, and will be looking to finish out the Fall campaign with a strong effort to build upon when the OPL kicks off again in the Spring. 

 

October 28, 2012 -- OPL Game 6 - "Fury Show OFC Some Tricks, but Don't Go Home With the Treats"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) finally returned to the field after a month away from the pitch, squaring off against 01 OFC (White), who sit atop the OPL table.  While the Fury seized an early lead, it was the OFC which came storming back to prevail 3-1 in a constest on the North OKC fields just days before Halloween.

 

In less than two minutes, the Fury were on the board.  Keely Chapman rolled a perfect pass into the path of Turner Mattingly-Harnden.  Turner charged into the OFC box, but was pulled down by a desperate defender.  The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the spot signalling that a penalty kick was to be taken.

 

Keely Chapman stepped up to take the PK.  Keely's shot went left and the goalkeeper went right.  The result was a goal and a 1-0 Fury lead.  The game was only minutes old and the Fury had the high flying OFC squad wondering what was happening.

 

Turner kept up the pressure, with a long shot on goal (one of her team high 3 shots), but it was gathered by the skillful OFC keeper.  On the other end of field, Emma Base made a fine goal line clearance to preserve the Fury lead.

 

Unfortunately, the OFC pressure intensified, and the score was knotted at one after an OFC midfielder struck from long distance. Not long after, the OFC scored again when an OFC winger whipped in a cross and the resulting clearance fell at the feet of an OFC striker who buried a one-tmer to make the score 2-0.

 

The Fury came agonizingly close to finding the equaliizer.  Turner sped down the right channel and struck a shot that was parried by the diving OFC net-minder.  The ball rolled free in front of goal and sat there for what seemed an eternity as Fury players scrambled to reach it while OFC defenders rushed to clear it from danger.  The Fury was unlucky not to reach it first. 

 

Shortly thereafter, Allison Austin made a stuning point blank save, rushing off her line to stop an OFC breakaway in a brave collision.  This was just one part of a busy day for the Fury goalkeeper, who turned away 13 OFC shots on the afternoon. Emma Base again came to Allison's aid, adding another goal-line clearance, one of her team high 6 defensive clearances.

 

The Fury defense finally cracked with just seconds left in the first half.  A long OFC cross was poked in at the corner of the Fury goal on what proved to be the last offensive play of the half.  The Fury gathered with Coach Schoene at halftime to discuss the 3-1 defecit.

 

The Fury came out swinging in the second half. Elle Abby sent a strong free kick into the OFC box which was settled by Keely and passed to Turner.  Turner had a go at the goal, but her shot was smothered by the OFC keeper.

 

Katie Fowler followed suit with a strong free kick of her own.  Katie's effort pin-balled around the OFC box and then fell at the feet of Elle.  Wasting no time, Elle unleashed a laser at goal, but it was speared by the OFC goalie.

 

Minutes later, Jaycie Thomas fired a picture perfect corner kick into the enemy box. Elle once again pounced, drilling a shot goal-ward.  The shot was saved, but the rebound fell at the feet of Bri Gray.  Bri's shot was hurried under pressure, and it went wide of the mark.

 

The balance of the half was fairly uneventufl.  Allison Austin made a nice leaping save in the 22nd minute.  Otherwise, the teams exchanged possession, but no further goals.  When the final whistle blew, the 3-1 loss was in the books.

 

Kelsi Fitzgerald was second on the team with 4 defensive clearances.  Rylee Langerman had three clearances, which was also matched by two players on the offensive end -- Jenna Miller and Megan Jones.  Elle Abbey and Maddy Childers shared the team lead with 4 tackles per player.  Ally Mayberry posted 2 clearances and a tackle.  Bri Gray pitched in with a tackle, a clearance and a pancake. 

 

The Fury are now in the home stretch of their Fall schedule.  Only one OPL game remains, and then the Fury will help host the NYSA's Classic Cup. 

 

September 30, 2012 - Capital City Cup (Game 4) (Semi-Finals) - "Fury Fall in the Land of Giants"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) faced a familiar foe in the Capital City Cup semi-finals - the 01 South Lakes Cosmos (Blue).  Well, familiar in the sense that the Fury have faced this foe before.  But, not familiar in the sense that the Fury were not playing all the same Cosmos players they have come to know through OPL play. 

 

Instead, the Cosmos reinforced their attack with the use of two "guest" players.  But, some would argue that these should have been "uninvited guests" because the two players in question were 13 years old.  While legal under tournament rules, do you have any guesses on the two giants (Nos. 18 and 37) who scored the Cosmos two goals in this 2-1 loss for the Fury?  If it sounds like this author is jaded, then you are right.  

 

Despite the advantage granted to the Cosmos by their "guests," the Fury put up a valiant effort.  The sem-final contest kicked off at noon with a slight drizzle falling on the players and fans.  From the start, goalkeeper Allison Austin was busy.  On a day in which Allison would make an astonishing 17 saves, Allison made one of her finest saves with her foot, kicking away a ball that was about to slip over the line in the middle of a scrum after Allison fended off a shot from another Cosmos player.

 

Coach Schoene got into an early dispute with the referee, correctly pointing out that a Cosmos player had committed a hand ball when she prematurely picked up a ball that she thought had gone out for a corner kick.  In the first of a series of questionable decisions, the referee stopped play to yell at coach Schoene and threaten her with a yellow card, as well as the Fury crowd who came to the Coach's defense, including Lance Chapman who was vocal in his support of Coach Shcoene, reminding the ref that he, "did not need to point at our coach!"

 

Bri Gray earned raves from the Fury faithful when she managed a fine tackle on No. 18, stealing the ball away from a player that literally had a foot of height and approximately 100 pounds of weight more than Bri. This seemed to galvanize the Fury players, and in the 11th minute Megan Jones had the Fury's first shot on goal.

 

However, in the 13th minute, No. 18 of the Cosmos sent an extremely long distance shot over the Fury defense and over the head of Allison.  The score was 1-0 Cosmos.

 

Allison spent the balance of the first half making save after save to keep the Fury in the game.  On one save she had to make a full stretch dive and use her fingertips to preserve the one goal defecit heading into halftime. 

 

The pressure only continued to mount in the secnod half. Defender Rylee Langerman made a fantastic goal line clearance.  Allison gobbled up a Cosmos free kick.  But, in the 15th minute the Cosmos other giantess, No. 37, used her strong leg and age difference to net the Cosmos second goal. 

 

The Fury would not quit, though.  Keely Chapman stung the hands of the Cosmos keeper on a near goal.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden was narrowly turned away by the Cosmos keeper.  Meanwhile the Cosmos nearly scored again, but it was waived off for being offsides.

 

Then with abou 3 minutes left, Katie Fowler took matters into her own hands.  Katie set out on an explosive run down the left channel and sent a soaring chip shot over the Cosmos keeper and into the net, her team-leading third of the tournament.  The score was 2-1 and the Fury had hope. 

 

After two more terrific charging and sliding saves from Allison, the Fury had one final chance in the closing seconds.  Jenna Miller broke into the open and dribbled towards goal.  But, her last-gasp effort was saved at the corner of the goal.  The whistle sounded, and the Fury loss was in the books. 

 

The Cosmos went on to the win the tournament with their jumble of roster and non-roster players.  But, the Fury can hold their heads high knowing how close they came to facing the Dragonflies in the championship game with the same roster of 11 year olds that they will field all year long.

 

Kelsi Fitzgerald capped a fine tournament with 6 defensive clearances.  Rylee Langerman had 4 clearances of her own and 2 tackles. Jenna Miller had 2 clearances, back-tracking from her spot on the wing.  Elle Abbey led the team with 2 pancakes, followed by Jaycie Thomas, who led the team in pancakes for the tournament.

 

Maddy Childers, Megan Jones, Ally Mayberry and Turner Mattingly-Harnden shared the team lead with 3 hearders per player.   Maddy ahd Ally led the team with 3 tackles a piece.  Emma Base had 2 clearances and 2 tackles.  Keely and Katie were tops with 2 shots on goal per player.

 

The Fury packed up and pointed their cars towards Oklahoma, leaving Little Rock in the rear view mirror.  The bitter taste of the loss to the Cosmos will fade.  When it does, the memories of a great tournament will remain.  Great job Fury!  We are all very proud of you.

 

September 30, 2012 - Capital City Cup (Game 3) (QuarterFinals) - "Fury Advance in Gangam Style!"

 

In the best game of the year for the 01 Fury (Schoene), the Fury pasted the 00 Arkansas Comets by a score of 3-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the Capital City Cup. 

 

The game kicked off at 8:00 a.m. in a slight drizzle, and the field was already soaked by overnight rains.  Megan Jones and Keely Chapman served early notice of the Fury's intentions.  Megan had the first two shots on goal, including the second which Keely followed up on only to see her own shot narrowly saved. 

 

The Comets applied pressure of their own, including a free kick that bounced into the box and seemed destined for the back of the net until keeper Allison Austin snatched it from danger.

 

The Fury fans were "furyous" when after a Jaycie Thomas corner kick a penalty kick was not awarded to Keely Chapman who was mauled in the box. The grief caused by that non-call went away, though, in the 33rd minute of the half.

 

Jaycie sent a sublime pass to Keely, freeing her for a one-on-one duel with a Comet defender.  Keely burst forward and the Comet defender slipped.  Keely galloped into the box and waited until the Comet keeper committed herself, and then cooly slotted the ball into the right hand corner.  The score was 1-0, and the Fury fans were delighted.  So delighed in fact, that many of them broke out an impromptu side-line version of the dance inspired by the pop hit, "Gangam Sytle."  Fury players looked on in a mixture of horror and humor as Fury parents shook off the side-effects of a late night of "socializing," and did their level best to imitate the frenetic dance style of Korean star Psy and his "Gangam Style" dance moves.

 

The Fury did not waste much time in the second half before increating their lead.  In the second minute of the second half, midfielder Maddy Childers dribbled past two defenders and then picked out Turner Mattingly-Harnden with a perfect pass, leaving the ball at Turner's feet and the goal at her mercy.  Turner did not waste the chance.  Turner advanced a few steps and then unleashed a low screamer that stung the cords in the back of the net, and sparked a whole new round of "Gangam" dancing. 

 

Maddy and Turner nearly combined for another goal moments later when Maddy used some nifty foot-work to break free in the corner and send a cross to Turner whose shot was only barely saved. 

 

On the other end, the Fury defense continued to hold true.  Defender Kelsi Fitzgerald  cleared a dangerous ball before a shot could be taken.  Katie Fowler likewise ended a scoring threat when she pancaked not one, but two Comet players, resulting in a rare "flapjack." 

 

Allison Austin had 6 saves on the morning, including a fine reaction save on a rebound shot.  Rylee Langerman also had a crucial tackle and clearance in a one-on-one situation inside of 6 yards from goal. 

 

It was Jaycie Thomas who put the final nail in the Comet coffin. Katie Fowler sent a beautiful corner kick to Jaycie in the 28th minute. Jaycie boomed a shot that richocheted off a helpless Comet defender and nestled in the back of the net.  "Gangam Style" celbrations ensued, and the Fury had put the finishing touches on a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

 

Kelsi led the team with 7 defensive clearances.  Rylee Langerman had the team lead with 5 tackles.  Maddy Childers was a stat-stuffer with 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 headers and 3 pancakes to accompany her assist on the goal scored by Turner.

 

Bri Gray had a well-rounded game with a pancake, a clearance and a tackle.  Ally Mayberry helped the Fury control the mid-feild with 3 tackles.  Jenna Miller had 2 shots on goal, and contributed a strong corner kick that nearly resulted in a Fury goal.  Emma Base had 3 clearances and Elle Abbey was all over the field, with 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 headers and 2 pancakes.  Megan Jones and Keely Chapman led the team with 3 shots on goal per player.

 

The Fury had little time to celebrate. The victory over the Comets put the Fury on a collission course with the 01 South Lakes Cosmos in the semi-finals. 

 

September 29, 2012 - Capital City Cup (Game 2) - "Fury Right the Ship, Sweep Away the Surge"

 

With their backs to the wall, and needing a victory to have any chance of earning a berth in quarterfinals, the Fury responded in fine fashion, beating the 00 Shreveport Surge United by a score of 3-0. 

 

The game was equal parts entertaining and frustrating.  The frustration came from the decision by the Surge to "park the bus," putting all of their players on the defensive end, sacrficing offense in an effort to avoid giving up goals. 

 

For much of the first half, that tactic worked.  The Fury had 17 shots on goals, including close efforts from Keely Chapman, Megan Jones and Bri Gray.  But, it was not until late in the half that the Fury finally found a way past the defensive wall in front of them. 

 

The goal started with Maddy Childers.  Maddy won a tackle just inside Surge territory.  Maddy dribbled forward and then picked out Katie Fowler with a pass.  Katie collected the assist and uncorked a rainbow volley that floated over the Surge goalkeeper, just sneaking in under the crossbar.  The goal was Katie's second of the tournament, and gave the Fury a 1-0 lead at halftime.

 

The Fury continued to dominate all phases of the game in the second half.  More importantly, though, the Fury also found more goals.  First, Ally Mayberry directed a header in traffic to Megan Jones.  Megan turned that header into an assist when she tatooed a shot into the upper corner of the Surge goal. 

 

The Fury tripled their advantage when Megan scored her second goal.  Megan took a feed from Keely and used a clinical finish to score the goal that made it mathematically possible for the Fury to advance in the tournament on a tie-breaker. 

 

When the game ended, the Fury had 34 shots on goal, and the Surge did not have even one.  Megan, Katie and Keely each had 6 shots a piece.  Jenna Miller, Turner Mattingly-Harnden and Ally Mayberry had 3 shots a piece.  Bri had 2 shots on goal, and Rylee Langerman, Maddy Childers, Elle Abbey, Jaycie Thomas and Kelsi Fitzgerald all had one shot on goal per player. In fact, the only players who did not have shots on goal were defender Emma Base, who led the team with 5 clearances, and goalkeeper Allison Austin, who recorded the easiest clean sheet of her career, in a game in which she was largely relegated to being a spectator. 

 

Other stats worthy of mention include Rylee leading the team with 7 tackles, Maddy and Megan sharing the team lead with 4 headers and Jaycie Thomas dishing out a team-leading 4 pancakes.

 

Later that night, during a team coaching session with Coach Schoene, the Fury learned that they had advanced to the quarterfinals with a game bright and early the next day with the Arkansas Comets.

 

September 29, 2012 - Capital City Cup (Game 1) - "Fury Can't Quite Swat the Dragonflies"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) and their faithful family and friends descended upon Little Rock, Arkansas for the weekend to participate in the Capital City Cup.  It was a welcome respite from the rigors of OPL play, but this challenge was made tougher by the fact that the Fury were playing up by a year, contesting teams U13 teams who were not only older and biger, but also more accustomed to the size 5 ball used at this level.  Nonetheless, the Fury were up to the challenge.

 

The Fury's first opponent was the Dragonflies, who hail from Little Rock and who practice at Burns Park, the beautiful tree-lined park that served as the site of the Capital City Cup. It was a see-saw affair which saw the Fury hold the lead late in the second half, only to see the Dragonflies escape with a narrow 3-2 victory.

 

The game kicked off at noon under an overcast sky that lowered game-time temperature to 71 degrees.  The Dragonflies towered over the Fury, but it was the Fury who applied the first pressure of the match.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden sent a wonderful -through ball to Keely Chapman in the final third that resulted in a fine run by Keely which was only stymied by the Dragonflies' keeper at the final moment.

 

Meanwhile, defender Elle Abbey celebrated the removal of her cast with a return to her usual aggressive style of play.  Elle twice drew fouls on Dragonfly players who resorted to fouling when they could not find a way past Elle's staunch defense.

 

The Fury offense continued to build towards a goal with multiple chances.  Megan Jones freed Keely for a shot that resulted in a corner.  Moments later Katie Fowler did the same, and only a fingertip save kept Keely off the score sheet.  Turner likewise came close on a shot in the box, but a sliding tackle by a defender took just enough steam off the shot to preserve the tie.

 

Emma Base was to thank for keeping the score knotted at zero when she bravely challenged a Dragonfly player in a dramatic aerial clash.  Emma not only won the 50/50 clash, but she also managed to get up in time to clear the ball from danger.

 

Jaycie Thomas planted a beautiful corner kick in the path of Keely who blasted just wide. The pressure really intensified when Turner lofted an absolutely brilliant cross into the box which Megan seemed destined to head into goal.  However, the ball only grazed Megan's noggin, and despite follow-up shots in the ensuing scrum from Megan and Jaycie, the Fury came away empty-handed.

 

The intensity of the game apparently raised the collective temperatures of Dragonfly fans, who were warned by the referee to silence their withering (and unwarranted) criticism of his officiating.  Not long after that same referee had to make another pivotal decision.

 

Katie made a fantastic run into the heart of the Dragonfly box.  She was pulled down from behind by a desperate defender.  A penalty kick was signalled, and Katie was selected to take the spot kick.  Katie cooly dispatched her shot into the right hand corner, and in the 28th minute of the first half, the Fury had a 1-0 lead.

 

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived. In the 32nd minute, the Fury defense cleared a ball from danger, but it landed at the feet of a Dragonfly mid-fielder about 35 yards from goal.  It only took a moment, but she unloaded a long distance laser that left Allison Austin with no chance.  The score was now tied 1-1, and remained so through the halftme whistle.

 

In the second half it was the Dragonflies who came out firing.  Twice the D-Flies pushed shots just wide of the Fury goal.  The Fury also came close when Turner struck the crossbar and Bri Gray's follow shot was saved at the near post.

 

The Dragonflies had one player (No. 14) who was a speed merchant, and a constant threat to the Fury defense.  Allison made a sparkling run-out save to keep No. 14 out of the net. 

 

Shortly thereafter Jaycie skied a shot over the Dragonfly goal, and Keely had a shot that curled just wide.  But, in the 18th minute Jaycie and Keely combined for the second Fury goal.  Jaycie fired a firm pass into the box that was smartly gathered by Keely who fired in a one-tmer in the 18th minute.   The Fury had a 2-1 lead and 16 minutes to go.

 

Those final 16 minutes were not kind.  The Dragonflies managed two break-away goals, including the game-winner with just 3 minutes left to play.  The Fury scrambled to find the equalizer, but the game ended with the Fury on the wrong end of the 3-2 tally.

 

Despite the loss, the Fury had a nice all-around team effort.  The back-line was stout.  Kelsi Fitzgerald led the team with 8 clearances, followed closely by Elle with 7, Rylee with 5 and Emma with 3.  Maddy Childers contributed a team-high 5 headers and tied for the team lead with 3 tackles.  Ally Mayberry had 4 headers of her own to go with a clearance and a tackle.  Jenna Miller led the team in pancakes.

 

The loss left the Fury in a must-win situation heading into the afternoon session, with a game looming in mere hours with the Shreveport United Surge.

 

September 22, 2012 - OPL Game 5 - "Fury Dominate, but Don't Finish, Settle for Draw"

 

Perhaps as an omen of things to come in the OU-Kanas State football game later that night, much like the Sooners the 01 Fury (Schoene) dominated the game, but could not finish their opponent.  At least the Fury salvaged a draw, though, splitting the spoils in a 2-2 tie with the 01 Tulsa Blitz-Thunder (Black) at NYSA"s Gillis-Rother Complex.

 

The most telling statistic from this game (compiled by the always awesome Brenda Chapman in the absence of the author, and by extension Maddy Childers, who was on a family trip) is that the Fury had 25 shots on goal to a mere 5 by the Blitz.  In fact, the Blitz did not have a single shot on goal in the first half.

 

It was Keely Chapman and Bri Gray who netted the two goals for the Fury.  Katie Fowler pitched in with an assist on one of the goals.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden was unlucky not to score, peppering the Blitz goal with a team-high 8 shots, to complement her team-high 3 headers. 

 

Other contributors in the assault on goal included Keely Chapman (4 shots on goal), Megan Jones (3 shots on goal), Ally Mayberry (3 shots on goal), Katie Fowler, Bri Gray and Jenna Miller with 2 shots on goal per player and Jaycie Thomas (one shot on goal). 

 

Rylee Langerman was stout in defense leading the team with 3 pancakes and 3 tackles.  Rylee also had one of two differernt shoe "blow-outs," with Kelsi Fitzgerald collecting the other one of this new (and slightly dubious) statistical category. 

 

Emma Base and Kelsi Fitzgerald teamed up with the newly returned from injury Elle Abbey for a combined 4 clearances, 2 tackles and a pancake.  Allison Austin was strong in goal with 3 saves. 

 

The draw leaves the Fury in the middle of the OPL table.  However, the Fury's attention now toruns to the Capital City Cup in Little Rock, Arkansas this coming weekend.  The Fury will take a break from OPL play and spend the weekend taking their best shot at teams from around the region. Stay tuned for updates.

 

September 16, 2012 - OPL Game 4 - "Fury Blitzed by the Blitz"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) were outclassed by the 01 Tulsa Blitz-United (Navy) by the score of 3-0 on the soggy fields at the Edmond Soccer Complex.  The Blitz are the reigning state champions so the Fury knew they had their work cut out for themselves.  But, the Fury have held their own with the Blitz in the past, including a victory over the Blitz in OPL play in the Spring season. 

 

Today, though, it was no contest, as the Blitz were never in any real danger, seizing a one goal lead at halftime, before padding the score with two more goals in the second half.  Perhaps the most telling statistic was the disparity in shots on goal, with the Blitz firing away with 20 shots to a solitary shot on goal by the Fury.

 

The tireless Katie Fowler and goalkeeper Allison Austin were the standouts for the Fury in this losing effort.  Allison racked up 11 saves, and without her efforts the scoreline would have been much more lop-sided.  Katie was her usual self, which is to say a dynamo of infectious energy, leading the team in defensive clearances and pancakes. 

 

Early in the game, Ally Mayberry had a nice header to clear a ball from danger.  Not long after, Turner Mattingly-Harnden got the Fury's only shot on goal, which was gathered by the goliath Blitz keeper. 

 

Bri Gray exacted some measure of revenge on the Blitz, literally decleating an opposing player with a legal pancake.  The Blitz player writhed in pain on the ground and had to leave the game not long after. 

 

Megan Jones showed the Blitz how to play through pain.  Megan went down temporarily with a head injury, but after taking time to compose herself, she stayed in the game.

 

The first half was dominated by the Blitz, but it was not until a couple of minutes before the half ended that the first goal was netted.  The Blitz reversed field with a strong pass and chipped over Allison's head. 

 

The Fury came out in the second half and played with more determination.  Turner and Bri combined on a through ball followed by a cross that was within yards of striker Keely Chapman, when the Blitz goalkeeper came off her line and dribbled the ball away from danger. 

 

At the other end, Allison was under a relentless assault.  She made a couple of back to back fine saves, the first on a high ball that she had to leap to stab, and the second a reaction point-blank save after charging a Blitz player who had penetrated the back line.

 

The barrage of shots continued, and finally the Blitz connected on a long distance effort that curled into the upper reaches of the net, doubling the Blitz advantage.  The lead would have been tripled minutes later, but Katie Fowler made a goal line clearance.

 

The final Blitz goal came on a free kick after a penalty was called on the Fury about 25 yards out.  The subsequent free kick cleared the Fury wall and slipped by Allison, closing the books on the Blitz scoring. 

 

Jaycie Thomas and Keely Chapman took turns setting each other up for scoring opportunities. Keely's strong diagonal pass to Jaycie freed Jaycie in space, but she was stymied by the last defender in her path.  Jaycie returned the favor with a strong cross that Keely controlled in the Blitz box, but she too was swarmed by defenders and foiled before a shot could be made.

 

Rylee Langerman, Maddy Childers and Katie Fowler shared top honors with 5 defensive clearancers each, and Rylee and Maddy also shared the team lead in tackles at 4 each.  Emma Base and Kelsi Fitzgerald both compiled 4 clearaqnces per player. Turner and Megan topped the charts with 2 hearders a piece. Jenna Miller had a busy day with 2 tackles, one clearance and a header. Ally had 2 clearances and a tackle.  Elle Abby missed her third straight game due to her injured wrist and thumb.

 

The Fury will look to regroup next weekend when the busy start to their OPL season continues with a tilt against the Blitz United, this time the Black squad. 

 

September 15, 2012 - OPL Game 3 - "Grudge Match Ends in Draw"

 

Batman had the Joker.  Rocky had Ivan Drago.  Seinfeld had Newman.  You get the point, everyone has an arch-nemesis sooner or later.  

 

In a light mist at the Edmond Soccer Complex, the 01 Fury (Schoene) faced off against their arch-nemesis, the 01 Tulsa Nationals.  The result was a hard-fought 0-0 draw against the team that bounced the Fury out of the State Cup semi-finals the last time these combatants met.  A history of bad blood and cheap shots is part of the legacy that exists between these two evenly matched teams. Today's match was well officiated, but hotly contested, and even though no victor was crowned, this game will mark another chapter in this tale of soccer's equivalent of the Hatfields and McCoys.

 

The  ball was heavy, soaked with rain water from the steady mist and the downpour from the past couple of days, which made it difficult for both teams to connect passes or get much steam on any shots on goal.  Nonethless, midfielder Turner Mattingly-Harnden applied the first pressure of the contest when she turned a cross into the box that was blocked past the end-line, resulting in a Fury corner kick.  Not long after, Katie Fowler, playing on the back line in place of injured Elle Abby (who added a broken thumb to a broken wrist in a freak school yard accident earlier this week) took a strong long distance free kick that was on frame, but gathered by the Natonals' goalkeeper.

 

On the other end of the pitch, Allison Austin was put to the test.  A National player lofted a high shot that at the near post.  Allison played the shot perfectly, tipping it to herself and strongly securing the slippery ball and tucking it away before trouble could occur.

 

The Fury suffered a blow when forward Keely Chapman was hooked by an opposing player, in turn over-extending the upper part of her fragile arm, only recently removed from the cast put in place to heal her broken arm. The unwhistled foul left Keely in great pain, putting her on the bench for extended periods, leaving the Fury without one of its top scoring threats.

 

The Fury did not let this set-back deter them in their assault on goal.  In fact, Jenna Miller came the closest of any player on the field to unknotting the score.  Jenna turned and fired from the left channel, just outside the box.   Her soaring shot thumped the top of the cross-bar and tumbled into the grass behind goal.  So close, and yet so far.

 

Meanwhile, the Natoinals were exerting pressure of their own.  But, the Fury were up to the challenge.  Megan Jones recorded the Fury's second "trifecta" of the year.  She executed a perfect tackle, dispossessing a National player of the ball and clearing it from danger while pancaking the unsuspecting Tulsan and leaving her on her posterior as Megan sprang forward with the Fury attackers. 

 

Not to be outdone, midfielder Maddy Childers recorded a trifecta of her own minutes later.  Maddy tracked back over half of the field, running down a National player who was marauding down the right sideline.  The larger National player used her hand to fend off Maddy, pushing her face and shouldering her in a vain effort to stop the speeding bullet headed her way.  It was no use, though, as Maddy made the tackle, stole the ball, cleared from danger, all while leaving the National player in a heap on the soaked ground. 

 

Before the half ended, the Fury again came close to breaking the deadlock.  Jaycie Thomas sent a free kick at goal that was spilled by the keeper.  In the ensuing scrum, the ball squirted free and the National goalkeeper was out of position. Maddy and Jenna converged on the ball, but a defender intervened before Jenna could squeeze off a shot.

 

Halftime brought a new issue for the Fury to overcome.  Turner tweaked her hamstring in the first half, and was unable to return.  With Turner out, and Keely on the pitch less than usual due to her arm strain, the Fury oftentimes were left without either of their top scorers on the field.

 

This latest set-back only strengthened the Fury's resolve.  Megan Jones stepped up her efforts in attack, testing the National keeper with an early shot on goal, finding space to take the shot in a congested National box, clogged with defenders. 

 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Fury were just as committed to excellence.  The closest the Nationals came to scoring was on a play about half-way through the second half.  Allison Austin made a save, defleccting it back into traffic.  A subsequent pass freed a Natoinal forward who streaked towards goal with nothing in her path, since Allison was off her line from the previous shot.  Out of nowhere, super defender Rylee Langerman came to the rescue.  With one of her team (and season single game) high 8 tackles, Rylee took the ball away and cleared it to a waiting midfielder, as Fury faithful breathed a collective sigh of relief.

 

Things later turned chippy at the end of a strong run by Jaycie Thomas.  Jaycie juked and jived her way past two Natoinal defenders and sprinted her way into enemy territory.  With acres of space in front of her and a National defender in her wake, Jaycie seemed poised to attack goal.  Unfortunately, the National player slid tackled her from behind in cynical fashion.  Jaycie was furious, pouncing to her feet, fists curled, standing over the National player.  The referee smartly interceded, brandishing a yellow card for the foul committed by the National player.

 

Despite the pain of her fall, Jaycie took the ensuiing free kick.  Megan collected the rebound of the clearance of he free kick, and took a crack at goal, but was deneid by the Natoinal keeper.

 

The Fury had found their stride, and were clearly the likelier  of the two squads to break the draw.  Keely Chapman put the pain behind her, and fired at goal, only to see her effort speared by the National keeper.  In the dying moments of the game, defender Kelsi Fitzgerald whipped a superb cross into the box.  The National net-minder deperately tried to smother the cross before it could be met by an oncoming Keely.  The ball momentarily rolled free, and Keely was agonizingly close to poking it home.  However, the ball was wrapped up just in the nick of time, and about a minute later the whistle sounded to end things.

 

No clean sheet can be achieved without sterling defense.  Allison Austin had five saves.  Emma Base added to her team lead with 8 clearances.  Katie Fowler toppeed Emma by one, with 9 clearances, and added two shots on goal.  Rylee had an astonishing 8 tackles and 8 clearances.  Kelsi put in her normal strong shift, with 5 defensive clearances.

 

Ally Mayberry was instrumental in a strong mdifield effort commended by Coach Schoene after the game.  Ally tallied two headers, a tackle and she had a shot on goal.  Maddy had 5 tackles, 4 clearances and 3 pancakes, teaming up with Jacyie Thomas (4) to put on a pancake breakfast in the middle of the afternoon.

 

Bri Gray had her version of a double-double, with 2 tackles and 2 defensive clearances.  Bri also amped up her agression, fighting hard for every ball, inspiring her teammates to do the same.  Megan led the team with 3 shots on goal, and filled up the stat sheet with 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 headers and 2 pancakes. 

 

At the end of the day, a victory would have been sweeter.  But, considering the circumstances, and the opponent, the Fury can be nothing but proud of the all-around team effort that resulted in a split of the spoils for these old foes. 

 

September 9, 2012 - OPL Game 2 - "Fury Blow Out the Hurricane"

 

Allison Austin made a spectacular save from the penalty spot, and Jenna Miller and Keely Chapman got the 01 Fury (Schoene) off the schneid, as the Fury shrugged off their struggles from the day before and ended the weekend on a high note, dispatching the 01 TSC Hurricane (Blackwell) by the score of 2-0.  The win levels the Fury's OPL record at one victory and one loss, and reminds the Fury faithful just down dynamic this team can be when it hits on all cylinders. 

 

Playing without defender Elle Abby (out with a broken wrist from yesterday's game), and with a bad taste in their mouths from yesterday's poor effort against the Cosmos, the Fury came out with a fire in their bellies.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden served notice of the Fury's intent, taking two of her team high 5 shots on goal in the first few minutes, the initial effort parried by the Hurricane keeper at the near post, and the second shot corralled in the center of goal.

 

Forward Keely Champan was the next player to open her account, receiving a pass from a sliding Turner and testing the Hurricane keeper with a low burner. Midfielder Maddy Childers continued the assault on goal, side-stepping a defender in the box and unspooling a shot that smacked a defender who was well placed for the block between Maddy and the goal.

 

In a rare moment of possession for the Hurricane in Fury territory, Jaycie Thomas went to work.  Jaycie pulled a soccer trifecta, winning a tackle on a 50/50 ball, clearing the ball from danger and leaving the opposing player on the ground, the recipient of a crowd-pleasing pancake. 

 

Meanwhile, the Fury kept firing at goal, part of a first half in which the Fury outshot the Hurricane by a count of six to two.  Turner skied a shot over the cross-bar. Not long after, Maddy freed Jaycie with a through ball, and Jaycie crossed to Keely who was only narrowly denied by the charging Hurricane keeper. 

 

Late in the half a Hurricane forward made a penetrating run into Fury turf.  But, just as it appeared she would get an open shot at goal, defender Kelsi Fitzgerald closed the angle and made a picture perfect clearance to preserve the tie game.  The half ended with the teams knotted up at zero.

 

The Fury listened to directions from Coach Schoene at half and then took the field, secure in the knowledge that they had played the stronger first half, but still eager to find the goal that would solidify the advantage.  It was the combination of Rylee Langerman and Jenna Miller who did the deed.

 

Rylee was patrolling mid-field from her spot on the back line, when the ball was cleared by a Hurricane defender.  The clearance landed approximately half-way between Rylee and the nearest Hurricane player.  Rylee arrived at the ball at the same time, but won the ball with a strong tackle.  Rylee then sped down the right channel and picked out Jenna with a timely pass. Jenna had a couple of defenders closing on her, and a difficult angle to work with.  However, Jenna turned and floated a ball over the back line.  The ball caught the Hurricane keeper in an awkward spot, and managed to squeeze between the net-minder's legs.  Just like that, Jenna had scored on Rylee's assist, and the Fury had their first goal in two and a half games, stretching back to Labor Day. 

 

The jubilation caused by the Fury goal, was suddenly muted a few plays later.  A Fury defender was whistled for a foul in the box.  A Hurricane player stepped to the spot to take the penalty kick.  Saving a PK is tough business, and certainly not something you can ever count on happening.  However, Allison Austin was up to the challenge. 

 

Allison guessed correctly and dove to her right.  The penalty shot was torpedoed in that direction and Allison stabbed at it just in time, deflecting the shot and turning it around the post.  The crowd erupted with Fury cheers in recognition of Allison's heroics.

 

The action took on a frenetic pace.  Keely forced a corner, and had a shot on goal.  Emma Base used her strong leg and physical presence to clear out a scoring opportunity for the Hurricane.  Allison Austin speared a corner kick in the middle of a congested penalty box. 

 

Then, just when it appeared that the Fury had another breakthrough, the referee robbed them of a chance at goal.  The sequence of events began with Jenna Miller crossing to Keely Chapman.  Keely, the ball and the Hurricane keeper arrived at precisely the same time, and the ball squirted free in the fray.  A scuffed attempt at a clearance left the ball at the feet of Ally Mayberry with the goal at her mercy, as the goalkeeper was scrambling to get back in position.  Ally drilled a shot that was denied by a blatant hand ball by the only defender left between Ally and the back of the net.  Unfortunately, the referree ignored the increasingly agitated pleas of the Fury faithful, and waived on play, robbing Ally and the Fury of a goal-scoring opportunity. 

 

Minutes later the refereee managed to grant a free kick to the Fury.  Jaycie Thomas unleashed a strong effort, but it pushed wide. Soon, though, the Fury's patience and hard work finally paid off. 

 

Turner Mattingly-Harnden dropped a perfectly weighted through-ball into the path of Keely Chapman.  Keely took the assist and found herself one on one with the keeper.  Keely slowed and studied her victim like a shark with its prey.  A second later, it was done.  Keely boomed a shot that blew by the defenseless goalkeeper, and the Fury were the proud holders of a seemingly insurmountable two goal lead. 

 

The second half came to a close after a barrage of corner kicks from the Hurricane.  Each corner kick was denied by the Fury defense, and in the dying moments, Kelsi Fitzgerald turned away the final Hurricane foray into Fujry territory. 

 

The Fury looked good across the board.  Katie Fowler had (team-high) double digits (10) in defensive clearances in relief of Elle Abby.  Emma Base did yeoman's work with 7 clearances and two tackles.  Rylee Langerman had 5 clearances, 3 tackles and the aforementioned assist on the Fury's first goal.  Kelsi Fitzgerald matched Rylee with 5 clearances and also dished out a pancake.

 

Ally Mayberry was a force in the middle.  Ally had a personal season high 5 clearances, and 4 tackles.  Maddy Childers led all players with 6 tackles, making a living in the middle of the field separating opposing players from the ball. 

 

Megan Jones added to her team lead in headers, putting her noggin to good use two more times.  Bri Gray had a scorching run down the left sideline that secured a corner kick for the Green Machine.  Turner was a stat-stuffer with an assist, 6 shots on goal, 2 pancakes, 3 headers, 2 clearances and 3 tackles. 

 

Numbers are only part of the story, though. Those numbers don't add up, unless there is a "W" at the end of the equation.  Today there was a win to celebrate, and the Fury are back on track, and playing like a team with its collective sights set on piling up even more "W's" in the months to come.   

 

September 8, 2012 - OPL Game 1 - "Cosmos Leave Fury Feeling Blue"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) got off to a disappointing start to their Oklahoma Premioer League campaign with a 2-0 loss to the 01 South Lakes Cosmos.  The Fury's lackluster performance was in stark contrast to their run to the semi-finals of last weekend's Plano Labor Day Invitational.  Today, though, the Fury seemed to always be a step slow to the ball.

 

The game kicked off at 11:00 a.m. on a beaucolic morning, with a strong breeze but a perfect temperature.  Early on in the contest the Fury had nearly equal possession, and Megan Jones was the first to take a crack at goal, sending her shot wide of the mark. 

 

The Cosmos likewise began to test the Fury's defense, and it took a strong clearance from Ally Mayberry to fend off an early Cosmos challenge in the Fury box.  Minutes later, Fury keeper Allison Austin had to make back to back saves, spilling the second but gathering it before a gaggle of Cosmos descended upon the loose ball.

 

The pressure continued to moiunt for the Fury.  The Cosmos secured a corner kick, and the resulting kick soared to within 8 yards of goal.  Fortunately, Maddy Childers had her player marked, and used a booming header to clear the ball out of the scrum.

 

There was only so much pressure that the Fury defense could take.  Eventually, a Cosmos player wove her way through traffic and lofted a shot into the prevailing tail-wind. The shot arced its ways over Allison's head and into the back of the net, making the score 1-0.

 

The sudden defecit seemed to put a jolt in the sleep-walking Fury.  Winger Jacyie Thomas fired a cross to Keely Chapman that was gobbled up by the Cosmos goalkeeper just nanoseconds before Keely's trusty foot could slot it home. 

 

Just as the Fury seemed to be regaining momentum, things took a turn for the worse.  A Fury defender was whistled at the edge of the box for a push in the back.  The ensuing penalty kick was measured up by a non-roster Cosmos player called into action for today's game.  The Cosmos player cleared the Fury wall with her free kick, which then struck the cross-bar and took a fortuitous (for the Cosmos) bounce to just clear the goal-line. 

 

With the score 2-0, the Fury pressed for a goal.  With just seconds left in the half, the Fury had their best chance of the day.  Turner Mattingly-Harnden jigged her way past defenders and squared to take a shot.  Soccer can be a game of inches.  On this shot, the inches were not in the Fury's favor.  The ball clanged off the post and rolled to a stop past the end-line.  Moments later the whistle sounded to end the half.

 

In the second half the Fury had to change up the line-up.  Defender Elle Abby suffered what is believed to be a broken wrist in the first half.  So, Jenna Miller took Katie Fowler's winger spot, and Katie showcased her versatility by moving back to defender.   The balance of the half played out without any further scoring.  While the Fury generally played better in the second stanza, the forwards were still starved for good service, and the Fury's shots on goal were few and far between.  The closest the Fury came to a break-through was a long distance effort by Turner, and an excellent through-ball played by Katie Fowler to Keely Chapman that freed Keely for a shot on goal that had promise, but ultimately went wide.  Time eventually ran out, and the 2-0 loss was in the books.

 

Allison Austin did her job in goal with 5 saves, and she had no chance on either of the goals that were conceded by the Fury.  Rylee Langerman, Emma Base and Katie Folwer shared top honros for defensive clearances with 5 per player.  Jenna Miller lead the team with 4 tackles, followed closely by Bri Gray with 3 of her own.  Allby Mayberry contributed 3 clearances and 2 tackles, while Maddy Childers dished out 3 pancakes to accompany her 2 clearances and 3 tackles.  Megan Jones once again led the team with 3 headers.  Kelsi Fitzgerald and Elle Abby teamed up for 4 clearances and 2 pancakes.  Jaycie, Turner and Keely each had 2 shots on goal.   

 

The bad news is that the Fury lost in a game that even the most ardent Fury fan has to admit we deserved to lose.  The good news is that the Fury have about 24 hours to get the game out of their system, before returning home to the Gillis-Rother complex for a tilt with the 01 TSC Hurricane (Blackwell).  The smart money says the Fury come out tomorrow and play like the team we know they are capable of being.

 

September 1 - 3, 2012 - Plano Labor Day Invitational XXXII

 

GAME 1 (Saturday) - "Fury Roll to Big Victory in Game 1"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) kicked off their Labor Day Weekend in style, vanquishing the 01 Midessa International FC Fusion 5-0. It was Coach Schoene's first game at the helm, and it took place at Russell Park, the site where the Fury won the championship in the 31st edition of the Invitational. Based on the results of this game, it appears the Fury have returned with the intent of defending their crown.

 

The match kicked off a few minutes after 10:30 in the morning. Despite the morning start, the Texas sun was blazing and players and fans alike were awash in sweat. The Fury stepped on the gas as soon as the whistle sounded. Forward Keely Chapman, whose cast and bubble wrap contraption cleared pre-game inspection, was the first to test the Fusion keeper with a sharp shot on goal. Bri Gray played a through ball into Turner Mattingly-Harnden who rifled a shot at the net which was turned away, resulting in a Fury corner.

 

The pressure applied by the Fury continued to mount. Katie Fowler rattled the post with a stinger from the wing. Then Turner uncorked one of her team high 8 shots on goal, and was narrowly denied. The seal on the goal was broken by the combo of Keely and Bri. Keely made a strong run down the right channel. Keely sped her way past the final defender and then slid a pass across the goal's mouth. Bri was in perfect position to fire Keely's pass into the roof of the goal, giving the Fury a 1-0 lead.

 

The goal by Bri only whetted the collective appetite of the Fury for more goals. Turner engineered a break-away, and was just narrowly denied a goal. Minutes later, though, Keely doubled the Fury's advantage. Katie Fowler sent a cross into the box that bounced off a Fusion defender and dropped invitingly at the feet of Keely who blasted home a shot from the center of the box, giving Katie the assist. Keely nearly scored again moments later when Maddy Childers dispossessed a Fusion player deep in enemy territory, and laid off a pass to Avery Holland. In turn, Avery had a toe-poke shot that was blocked by the keeper, but Keely was there for the rebound, and her volley was whisker close to finding paydirt.

 

The third goal of the match showcased the Fury's teamwork. Jenna Miller used her physical presence to win a drop ball at the edge of the Fusion box. Keely won the drop ball, then snaked her way across the field. Keely picked out Maddy in space, and Maddy made good use of the assist. Maddy wound up and uncorked a scorcher from 10 yards out. The keeper managed to get her fingertips to the ball, but it was not enough, as Maddy's shot rolled into the back of the net, tripling the Fury's unblemished scoreline.

 

The Fury threatened a couple more times before halftime. Jaycie Thomas saw a long distance free kick smothered by the Fusion goalkeeper. And, Jenna whipped a wonderful cross to Avery that nearly resulted in a goal. But, the score remained 3-0 as the whistle sounded to end the first stanza.

 

The Fury did not lose their mojo in the second period. Keely cracked a shot off the post. Rylee Langerman made a strong run from the back line and nearly forced an own goal in the confusion that followed a well placed flick on goal. Katie and Keely both came close after a pair of fine passes from Turner.

 

Katie Fowler took matters into her own hands (or feet!) to put the 4th goal on the board. Katie charged into the corner, but was trapped by a defender. Displaying her dogged determination, Katie juked her way out of trouble and sent a wonderful cross into the box. Keely knew what to do with the assist, and she fired a one-timer into the net. Turner closed out the scoring with a thunderbolt from distance. The goal was well deserved as Turner had been influential in almost every aspect of the Fury's play.

 

The Fury came close to scoring again. Megan Jones fired a bullet at goal, but was denied. Cara Compton galloped past Fusion defenders only to be narrowly denied in a one on one challenge with the Fusion net-minded. And, Jaycie Thomas had the final shot on goal, capping a game in which the Fury outshot the Fusion 26 to 6. The clean sheet was preserved by Allison Austin, who twice used perfect timing and aggressive play to put an end to late Fusion breakaways on goal.

 

In addition to Allison's 6 total saves, the Fury's defenders and defensive mid-fielders were spectacular. Kelsie Fitzgerald led all players with 7 defensive clearances, and was a constant menace for Fusion forwards. Emma Base collected 5 clearance of her own, and won some cheers when she tatooed a ball off the head of the author of this column. Rylee Langerman pitched in with 6 clearances, and feisty Eden Holetzky cleared the ball from danger 5 times. Elle Abby led the team in "pancakes" and tackles. Ally Mayberry shared the lead in tackles with Elle, and Ally was strong and consistent in her passes which often set into motion plays that ended in goals.

 

The Fury tee it up again at 7:30 p.m. in game two. For now, though, the Fury are off to a flying start.

 

GAME 2 (Saturday) - "Fury Strike Twice Late to Salvage Draw"

 

On literally the final play of the match, the 01 Fury (Schoene) scored the equalizer to salvage a 2-2 draw in a pulsating affair with the 01 North Texas Strikers. The contest was held under the lights at Carpenter Park, and the 7:30 kick-off and slight breeze helped to cool down the players at the end of another blazing late summer day.

 

The Fury pressed the advantage early, with Keely Chapman going close, but denied due to a tight shooting angle. Turner Mattingly-Harnden likewise tested the waters with a long distance effort that was cradled by the Striker keeper.

 

On the other half of the field, the Fury defense had it's first real test, but withstood the challenge when defender Elle Abby executed a superb tackle and clearance (one of her team high five clearances) to nullify the Striker chance. A mandatory water break at the 15 minute mark was held, and the combatants rehydrated while discussing the stalemate with their coaches.

 

Not long after resumption of play, Megan Jones unleashed a shot that resulted in a Fury corner. The resulting set piece did not yield a goal, but shortly thereafter the Fury came agonizingly close when Keely intercepted a goal kick, but drug her shot just wide.

 

The Fury came even closer, though, when Jaycie Thomas finished a fine run with a perfect cross to the feet of Ally Mayberry. Ally crushed the shot, but it cleared the crossbar by less than a foot. The Fury outshot the Strikers 8-2 in the first half, and had the lion's share of possession. Soccer can be cruel, though, which the Fury learned all too well in the dying moments of the first half. A Striker midfielder lofted a long pass downfield which took a giant hop and bounded over the Fury defense. The pass was latched onto by a speedy forward who blurred her way into the Fury box and rounded on Allison Austin and deposited the game's first goal.

 

Halftime came and went and the Fury scrambled to find purchase in Striker territory. Meanwhile, it was Elle Abby and Rylee Langerman who saved the Fury's bacon in a flurry of action at the goal-line. First, Rylee cleared a shot off the line. Then, Elle leapt high into the air and used her chest to block a long distance effort from nestlings in the back of the net.

 

The reprieve was short-lived, though. The Strikers doubled their advantage with a perfectly placed long ball. Desperation was beginning to set in as the clock became the Fury's mortal enemy. Fortunately, Cara Compton and Turner were ready to take center stage.

 

In the span of roughly 3 minutes, this duo would turn the game on it's head. First, Turner weaved through defenders on the right side and fed Cara a pass in space. Cara sent a rope into the left hand corner, and the deficit was suddenly only one. But, the real magic too place moments later.

 

Turner once again laid off an assist to Cara and Cara did the rest. She fired a shot into the right hand corner past a flailing goalkeeper, and Fury fans erupted with cheers. The referee signal led the end of the game before a kick-off could take place, meaning that Cara's goal was the last action of the night, and oh boy was it a doozy. A loss was averted and the Fury's chance of a top seed was preserved.

 

The struggle to snare a draw from the clutches of defeat was a total team effort. Allison Austin made an absolutely crucial save on a breakaway with minutes left, without which Cara's heroics would have been for naught. The defensive back line was stout. Emma Base contributed three defensive clearances and Kelsi Fitzgerald added four of her own. Maddy Childers held strong at the holding midfielder spot, and fended off an offensive player on a critical corner kick late in the game.

 

Bri Gray cracked a shot at goal, and Katie Fowler wreaked havoc on the wing. Jenna Miller patrolled the park, dispensing punishment to those who invaded Fury space. Eden Holetzky and Avery Holland made strong connecting passes and helped anchor the Fury's control of mid-field.

 

As the Fury marched back to the official team limo, no doubt they still longed for outright victory. But, this kind of fight can certainly be savored too.

 

GAME 3 (Sunday) - "Birthday Victory for Turner and the Fury"

 

It was the ultimate birthday party for Turner Mattingly-Harnden, as she celebrated in style with a brace of goals in the 01 Fury's 2-0 victory over 01 SC Dallas Kicks (Blue) on a wind-swept field at the University of Texas at Dallas. The win catapulted the Fury to the top of Bracket B of the Silver B Division, making the Fury the top seed going into this afternoon's quarterfinals.

 

The game was a see-saw affair with neither team establishing early dominance. It was nearly deja-vu all over again in the opening moments as the wind played tricks and allowed a punt to sneak past the back line. Allison Austin was there to save the day (and the shot).

 

Ally Mayberry took a long crack at goal but was frustrated by the strong head-wind. Turner also took aim at goal, but her shot was scuffed when she was spilled by a defender in the box, while the referee swallowed his whistle.

 

Allison kept up her hard work, turning away shots at both sides of her posts. The Fury continued to press for shots, with Keely Chapman taking a cross from Jenna Miller only to have her shot blocked.

 

The game took a brief hiatus when a Kicks' player suffered breathing problems on the field. She was attended to by her coach, tournament officials and uber-Fury fans (and medical pros) RJ Langerman and Bryan Jones. There was no word at press time whether RJ and Bryan did it just so the could ride in the cool golf cart.

 

After the game resumed, Jenna Miller introduced a Kicks' player to the turf with a teeth-rattling pancake. But it was the Kicks who closed out the half with more shots on goal, all comftorably saved by Allison as part of her 10 save clean sheet.

 

The second half kicked off and the Fury immediately looked more dangerous. Keely hooked a shot over the cross-bar. Turner had a strong shot palmed away by the keeper. The breakthrough was imminent.

 

Elle Abby was the catalyst. After a throw-in by Elle, she won back possession and poked it to the birthday girl. Turner did the rest, using her trademark cannon of a leg to laser a shot into goal.

 

The Kicks would not give up and Rylee Langerman made a strong clearance to fend off a threat. The Fury needed a level of comfort. Cue the birthday girl.

 

Katie Fowler teed up a corner kick and sent it skidding into the box. Turner gathered the ball from a scrum of players and turned on a dime and fired in her second goal.

 

There was a growing sense that Turner's second goal would be enough, but a few nervous minutes remained. Megan Jones and Elle Abby went out of the game briefly due to injuries. And, Allison made back to back brilliant saves, the second on a slide, to deny the Kicks. Jaycie Thomas had a final go at the goal with a strong free kick, but the wind pushed her effort. The whistle sounded and another victory was in the books.

 

Per the usual, the list of contributing forces for the Fury is lengthy. Maddy Childers led the team in tackles with 5. Emma Base led a bruising Fury defense with 7 clearances. Megan Jones made good use of her blonde noggin, topping the charts with three headers. Kelsie Fitzgerald, Eden Holetzky and Avery Holland combined for 5 clearances and 3 tackles. Cara Compton and Bri Gray burned up the field with strong runs from the forward position.

 

Next up for the Fury is a quarterfinal tilt with the 01 East Texas United. A spot in tomorrow's semi-finals hangs in the balance.

 

GAME 4 (Quarterfinals) (Sunday)  - "Fury Vanquish United, on to the Semis"

 

The 01 Fury (Schoene) punched their ticket into the semi-finals of the Plano Labor Day Invitational Silver A Division with a comprehensive 1-0 victory over the 01 East Texas United.

 

With the temperature soaring to over 100 degrees at the University of Texas at Dallas fields, the heat was on for both teams. But, it was the Fury who created the most opportunities, and they were well deserving of the victory, secured by a composed strike from Megan Jones.

 

Early on the Fury declared their intent, peppering the United goal with multiple shots from Keely Chapman. The United keeper was up to the challenge, though, and the early action soon cooled off, and the teams traded possession, but not shots.

 

It was not until after the water break that the Fury again found their stride. It was Elle Abby who jump-started the offense. The Fury's resident spark-plug stole the ball from a United player and then ripped off an astonishing run down the left sideline boundary. Elle found Keely open in space and Keely broke free and zipped into the box. In the face of an advancing goalkeeper, Keely arrowed a shot at the far corner. The keeper barely managed to place her fingertips to the shot, but it was enough to swing the shot around the post.

 

The disappointment of that near miss became even more acute minutes later when Elle once again worked wonders, but the Fury came away empty-handed. Elle once again pushed up from the defensive back-line and traversed the length of the field. As Elle charged towards the goal, she had Jenna Miller and Cara Compton galloping along-side. Both Jenna and Cara held true to their lanes, forcing the United defenders to give room to the rampaging Elle who took advantage of the wiggle room by uncorking a soaring shot on goal. The shot was saved, but spilled by the keeper. The ball rolled to a stop inches from the goal line, and for an agonizing second it lay there waiting to either be scooped up or blasted home. Cara made a valiant effort to do the latter, but was denied by a late arriving defender.

 

Soon thereafter, halftime arrived. The Fury did not surrender a single shot on goal in the first 30 minutes of play, so confidence was high amongst the troops. Still, concern began to grow as the United defense continued to bend but not break. It was a series of set pieces that unlocked the mystery to the back of the United net.

 

The Fury won a corner kick. Then, not once, not twice, but an astounding three consecutive times the Fury battled and won additional corner kicks. It was the last one that did the trick. Katie Fowler measured up her fourth consecutive corner kick. This time she fired a low line drive into the box that swung from player to player like a frenetic pin-ball machine. When the ball finally settled, it was in the path of Megan Jones.

 

Megan wasted no time, driving her shot through the traffic and over the keeper's head. As the cords of the net rippled from the impact of the shot, the Fury finally had the necessary goal to accompany its stalwart defensive effort.

 

The Fury made Megan's effort stand up, silencing the United offense for the balance of the game. Such was the strength of the Fury defense, that Allison Austin enjoyed a relatively care-free afternoon, and was not forced to make even a single save. Rylee Langerman led the defensive charge with a team-high 7 clearances. Elle and Emma Base continued their strong partnership in the back, claiming 5 clearances a piece. Kelsi Fitzgerald pitched in with 3 more clearances, and frustrated the United with the manner in which she cooly dribbled out of trouble areas and invariably found the right passes.

 

Midfielder Maddy Childers helped to lead an aerial assault. The Fury had 12 headers in the game, the most so far in a tournament game. Maddy had two of these headers including an important clearance with a thunderous header by the diminutive force of nature. Jaycie Thomas had some fancy moves, including a pirouette on the sideline that left a United player kicking at air as Jaycie raced by her, springing another play into action.

 

Ally Mayberry was a maestro in the middle of the park. Ally repeatedly used precision passing to hold possession and set up plays for the Fury front line. While Turner Mattingly-Harnden did not repeat her two goal performance from the morning session, she did twice have shots on goal that forced smart saves from the beleaguered United keeper. Bri Gray used her speed and deft touch to terrorize the wing and put the United defenders on the back foot. Finally, Eden Holetzky and Avery Holland put in fine shifts in the midfield. Eden had blood trickling from her arm after a choice encounter with a United player on the final play of the game. Eden wore it like a badge of honor as it symbolized the unbowed spirit of this fiery team.

 

The final day of the tournament awaits. At 10 a.m. the Fury match up with the 01 Dallas Texans. The Texans are all that stand in the way of the Fury's return visit to the championship game and a chance to defend last year's crown, this time in a higher bracket. The anticipation is high, but the Fury's resolve to win is unquestioned.

 

GAME 5 (Monday) (Semi-Finals) - "Fury's Dream of Repeat Championship Comes to an End"

 

The 01 Fury's (Schoene) dream of back to back championships in Plano ended Labor Day morning on the sun-baked fields at the University of Texas at Dallas Soccer Complex.  The 01 Dallas Texans became the first team in the tourney to hold the Fury scoreless, pinning a 2-0 loss on the good guys.

 

Early in the contest it was clear that the Fury had met an opponent that was strong and determined.  Yet, it was the Fury who created more early opportunities.

 

Forward Keely Chapman yanked a cross into the Texans' box, and only a well-timed dive by the keeper allowed her to smother it before the ball could squirt into the path of an oncoming Fury player. 

 

On the other side of the field, defender Kelsi Fitzgerald was called into action.  Kelsi calmly stepped in and broke up a give and go that threatened to breach the Fury defense.  WIth the danger averted, Kelsi picked out a midfielder and sent the ball out of harm's way.

 

Goalkeeper Allison Austin would have a much busier day than in the quarterfinals.  Her first save was comforably gathering a Texan free kick that fluttered in the morning breeze, losing momentum in the process.  Allison faced a much stiffer challenge minutes later when a foul was called on a Fury defender at the edge of the box.  The resulting free kick was on a bee-line for the back of the net. But, Allison got a mitt to the shot, and it deflected wide. 

 

The Fury needed to apply pressure of their own, and Keely obliged by setting off on a long mazy run.  The run was just barely stopped by the Texan keeper who bravely advanced and closed Keely's angle of penetration.  Bri Gray kept up the pressure with a long run on the boundary nearest the Fury fans.  Although Bri's progress was finally slowed by a Texan defender, she smartly used her body to win the challenge and create a throw-in deep in Texan territory. 

 

Shortly after the 15 minute mark, Turner had the best chance so far. From a tight angle, Turner smacked a shot at the near post.  The shot had far too much steam for the keeper to catch, so she settled on palming the shot back into the box.  The Fury were unlucky to not have anyone near the bouncing ball before it was cleared by a Texan defender.

 

Turner's shot seemed to awaken the Fury offense.  Maddy Childers dribbled in the Texan box and skipped a pass to Jenna Miller.  Jenna had a small amount of room to operate, so she lofted a shot, intended to fall between the advancing keeper and the top of the crossbar.  This cheeky effort very nearly worked, but the shot just curled over the bar.  Turner likewise cleared the bar a few minutes later as the Fury's offense really began to come together, despite the lack of goals.

 

Then, disaster struck.  With only a minute left before halftime in a scoreless game, a Texan player sent a semmingly harmless bouncer into the Fury box.  Allison Auston came out to control, but found herself in a cluster of players.  In the confusion, a Texan player managed to execute what can only be described as a karate kick, poking the ball over Allison's head, and into the back of the net.  So, when the whistle sounded for halftime, the Fury knew they were down a goal and would be playing into the wind in the second half. 

 

The second half had more action than the first. The Texans came close to scoring on a free kick that nearly kissed the crossbar on its way over.  Meanwhile, defender Elle Abby made a strong charge into enemy territory and uncoiled a long distance shot that was headed out of the box. 

 

The closest the Fury came to paydirt was courtesy of the foot of Katie Fowler.  Katie navigated the far sideline and managed to shake free of her defender.  Katie then angled towards goal and unleashed a beautiful shot.  The shot's trajectory seemed destined to find the net, but the Texan keeper made the play of the game, leaping high into the air and securing the ball with her fingertips before it could become the equalizer so desperately sought by the Fury and their faithful fans. 

 

Jaycie Thomas used her strong leg to place three separate free kicks on frame, but each wa corralled by the Texan net-minder.  The Fury's job became even tougher when a Texan player burst into the box, slipped her defenders and found a corner of the net where Allison had no chance.  The score was 2-0, and time was running out.

 

In the final few minutes, the Fury kept pushing for goal.  Maddy Childers had a shot on goal saved at the near post.  Cara Compton sent an inviting cross that was stymied before it could be latched onto by a Fury player. Megan Jones and Maddy drew 4 fouls on the Texans in the last two minutes opening up free kick opportunities.  Unfortunatley, it was not meant to be.  The whistle sounded, and the Texans' celebration began. 

 

Despite the loss, the Fury still had superlative play that is worthy of notice.  Emma Base put an exclamation point on a fine tournament with a team high 5 defensive clearances.  Kelsi Fitzgerald added 4 clearances, and Rylee Langerman added 2 clearances and numerous invasions from the back linto Texan turf, utilizing her speed, agility and keen sense of field position.

 

Megan Jones continues to prove that big things come in small packages.  Megan led the team with 5 headers, including a number of nifty diredional headers.  Ally Mayberry and Maddy Childers nearly kept pace with four more headers a piece, and Ally was strong through the middle of the field, dictating the pace of play. Finally, Eden Holetzky had several fine tackles to win possession for the Fury, and Avery Holland showcased her speed and precise passing, particulary under pressure.

 

To a girl, the Fury did not want this weekend to end without a medal around their necks.  But, even in the anguish of defeat, lessons are there to be learned.  The Fury now prepare to begin the regular season in OPL play, and they are buyoed by the confidence that comes with a tournament in which they registered a 3-1-1 record (and a spot in the semi-finals), 10 goals, 7 assists, 65 shots on goal, 24 saves, 36 pancakes, 51 headers, 111 defensive clearances, 75 defensive tackles and 17 corner kicks. 

 

In other words, it was a great weekend, filled with great soccer, great parents and most importantly of all, great kids.